Indian movie star Vijay has been sworn in as chief minister of Tamil Nadu

Indian movie star-turned-politician Joseph Vijay Chandrasekhar, popularly known as Vijay, was sworn in as chief minister of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu on Sunday (May 10).

His swearing-in ended days of political uncertainty, after his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won a massive 108 seats in the 234-member assembly last week, but fell short of the 118 required to form a government.

However, Vijay secured the support of the country's main opposition Congress Party, which won five seats, and four other smaller parties, to secure 120 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Context

The newly-formed TVK, contesting its first election, was the only party to secure more than 100 seats in the Tamil Nadu state elections on May 4.

Vijay's victory ended 59 years of unbroken dominance by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), the two parties that had traded power in Tamil Nadu since 1967.

However, since the party fell short of the required number of seats, Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar insisted the TVK prove it had the additional support it required before Vijay's swearing-in.

The TVK then secured the support of four smaller parties – the Communist Party of India (CPI), the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M), the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) – each of which had won two assembly seats.

Their support gave Vijay the backing of 120 Tamil Nadu legislators, surpassing the 118 required to form a government.

Vijay's Political Rise

Born on June 22, 1974 in Chennai, Vijay is the son of Tamil film director S. A. Chandrasekhar and singer Shoba Chandrasekhar.

He made his film debut in 1992 in his father's directorial Naalaiya Theerpu.

He went on to appear in 68 films, building an enormous fanbase — a popularity he rode on when he retired as an actor and took up politics.

Election Promises

Among Vijay's promises in the party's election manifesto was the payment of a Rs. 2,500 monthly assistance for women and 8 grammes of gold and a silk saree for every bride from families with an annual income of below Rs. 5 lakhs — approximately Rs. 1.7 million Sri Lankan rupees.

However, besides these promises, Vijay has said that he would push for the reclamation of Katchatheevu, the island off Sri Lanka's coast, to the Indian state.

Under the Indo-Sri Lanka maritime boundary agreements signed in 1974 and 1976 under Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and Sri Lankan Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, sovereignty over Katchatheevu belongs to Sri Lanka.

Responding to these comments, Sri Lanka's Foreign Minister Vijitha Herath told the media, "Katchatheevu Island belongs to Sri Lanka. It is an island belonging to Sri Lanka. Therefore, that will never change," labelling Vijay's comments as election rhetoric.