Meet the new Ministers in Tamil Nadu CM Vijay’s expanded Cabinet

The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Cabinet, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, was expanded on Thursday, May 21, 2026, with the induction of 23 new members, including two Congress MLAs. Congress joins any government in Tamil Nadu after a gap of 59 years.

The members were sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar at Lok Bhavan in Chennai. Previously, 10 members, including the Prime Minister, were sworn in.

Here’s everything you need to know about the 23 new members of the TVK-led Cabinet.

A. Srinath

A. Srinath, a long-time friend of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, won the Thoothukudi Assembly segment, defeating former DMK Minister P. Geetha Jeevan. The 52-year-old actor started his film career with Mr. Vijay. Naalaiya Theerpu In 1992.

S.Kamalı

S. Kamali, who hails from Rasipuram in Namakkal district, won the Avinashi Assembly segment, defeating Union Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting L. Murugan. A homemaker, Ms. Kamali holds a Master’s degree in English Literature and a Bachelor’s degree in Education. The 28-year-old is one of the youngest Ministers in the Cabinet led by Mr. Vijay.

C.Vijayalakshmi

C. Vijayalakshmi is one of the frontline leaders of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. He was elected from Kumarapalayam Assembly constituency in Namakkal district, defeating AIADMK strongman and former Minister P. Thangamani. Ms. Vijayalakshmi is self-employed and has studied up to Class 12.

R V Ranjithkumar

RV Ranjithkumar, elected from Kancheepuram Assembly constituency, holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Tamil Nadu Open University. The 50-year-old is involved in farming, business and real estate.

R.Vinoth

R. Vinoth was elected from Kumbakonam Assembly segment in Thanjavur district. The 32-year-old man is in business and had dropped out of his Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.

VK Rajeev

VK Rajeev, 33, hailing from Ramanathapuram, was elected from Thiruvadanai Assembly constituency. He was the party’s only MLA from Ramanathapuram district.

A doctor by profession, Mr. Rajeev completed his MBBS degree from Raja Muthiah Medical College, Annamalai University, Chidambaram in 2016.

B.Rajkumar

B. Rajkumar was elected from Cuddalore Assembly segment. The 46-year-old is into real estate and business and has a degree in Mechanical Engineering from Muthiah Polytechnic in Chidambaram.

V. Gandhiraj

V. Gandhiraj, 52, was elected from Arakkonam Assembly segment, which has been an AIADMK stronghold in recent years. Mr. Gandhiraj is a civil contractor and dropped out of his Bachelor of Arts degree from Madras University.

P. Mathanraja

P. Mathanraja, 41, was elected from Ottapidaram Assembly segment in Thoothukudi district. He is in the business world and holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Sri Venkateswara College of Engineering.

K. Jegadeeshwari

K. Jegadeeshwari, 40, elected from Rajapalayam Assembly segment in Virudhunagar district, holds a Bachelor’s Degree.

S. Rajesh Kumar

S. Rajesh Kumar, a senior leader of the Congress party, was elected from Killiyoor Assembly segment in Kanniyakumari district. He won the seat as a Congressional candidate for a third consecutive term.

The 51-year-old leader, who comes from a family of politicians, is the leader of the Congress Legislative Assembly Party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. He completed his Bachelor of Laws degree from VV Puram College of Law, Bangalore University and Master of Arts degree from Vinayaka Missions University.

M.Vijay Balaji

Thirty-nine-year-old M. Vijay Balaji was elected from Erode East Assembly segment. This constituency faced two by-elections during the previous tenure. He has a Bachelor of Commerce degree and is interested in business.

D. Lokesh Tamilselvan

D. Lokesh Tamilselvan, AIADMK veteran and son of former Assembly Speaker P. Dhanapal, was elected from Rasipuram Assembly segment in Namakkal district, defeating former DMK Minister M. Mathivendhan.

He was working in the AIADMK before joining TVK earlier this year. Mr. Tamilselvan contested on an AIADMK ticket from the Nilgiris Parliament constituency in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and finished third. His father, Mr. Dhanapal, was elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly seven times and also served as a Minister in the Cabinet led by former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa.

Mr. Tamilselvan completed his Bachelor of Commerce degree from Loyola College, Chennai and Master of Business Administration degree in Marketing Management and Personnel Management from the Indian Institute of Planning and Management, New Delhi.

A.Vijay Tamilan Parthiban

Hailing from Salem district, A. Vijay Tamilan Parthiban was associated with Vijay Makkal Iyakkam. He was elected from the Salem South Assembly division. As the party’s Salem Central district secretary, he played an instrumental role in the party’s significant success in Salem district.

The 50-year-old man is interested in the electronics business. He completed his education up to 12th grade in Salem.

S. Ramesh

S. Ramesh, 31, elected from Srirangam Assembly segment in Tiruchi district, is the State coordinator of the media wing of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and is known as a fluent speaker. He has a Bachelor’s degree in Engineering.

P. Viswanathan

P. Viswanathan, who hails from Thazhambur in Chengalpattu district, was elected from Melur Assembly segment in Madurai district. He was the last candidate announced by the Congress Party ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections.

Mr. Viswanathan, a former banker, was the only Scheduled Caste candidate to win from a general constituency in the 2026 elections. He holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Madras. Mr. Viswanathan had previously served as a legislator representing Kancheepuram Lok Sabha constituency between 2009 and 2014.

R. Kumar

R. Kumar, 60, elected from Velachery Assembly segment, represents one of the most densely populated Assembly constituencies in Chennai. Mr. Kumar is a businessman. He holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from the University of Madras and recently completed the Business Leadership Program at IIM Bangalore.

K. Thennarasu

K. Thennarasu was elected from Sriperumbudur Assembly segment in Kancheepuram district. He defeated Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K. Selvaperunthagai in the 2026 elections. Mr. Thennarasu has studied up to Class 10 and is involved in business as a commission agent.

V. Sampathkumar

V. Sampathkumar, 47, was elected from Coimbatore North Assembly segment, defeating BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan. He completed his Masters in Business Administration through distance learning from Annamalai University and is interested in business.

J. Muhammad Farvas

J. Mohamed Farvas was elected from Aranthangi Assembly segment in Pudukkottai district. The 31-year-old is in the printing business and holds a BA LLB (Hons.) degree from the National Law School. He also served as a councilor in Pudukkottai Corporation.

D. Sarathkumar

Thirty-four-year-old D. Sarathkumar was elected from Tambaram Assembly segment in Chengalpattu district. He holds a BBA degree from MM Jain College, Meenambakkam and works as a civil contractor.

N. Marie Wilson

Part of Chennai’s leading private educational institution, N. Marie Wilson, Dr. Radhakrishnan was elected from Nagar Assembly segment. The 46-year-old holds a PhD in Management Sciences from Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad.

K. Vignesh

K. Vignesh, 38, was elected from Kinathukadavu Assembly segment in Coimbatore district, a traditional AIADMK stronghold. Mr. Vignesh is interested in business and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from a private university.