Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Thursday allocated portfolios to 23 newly inducted ministers in the expanded Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) Cabinet, taking the total strength of the government to 33 ministers including the Chief Minister.
The expansion also marked a major political moment in the state, with Congress joining the Tamil Nadu government after nearly six decades. Congress leaders S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan were among those sworn in and later assigned key portfolios.
The Cabinet expansion also stood out for another reason — four women have now been inducted into the Cabinet, a first in Tamil Nadu’s political history, according to reports.
Tamil Nadu Ministers List 2026: What portfolios were allocated to whom?
Here is the full list of ministers and departments in the expanded Tamil Nadu Cabinet:
- K.A. Sengottaiyan – Revenue and Disaster Management
- Srinath – Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare
- S. Kamali – Animal Husbandry
- C. Vijayalakshmi – Dairy Development
- R.V. Ranjithkumar – Forests
- Vinoth – Agriculture and Farmers Welfare
- Rajeev – Environment and Climate Change
- P. Rajkumar – Housing and Urban Development
- V. Kanthiraj – Cooperation
- P. Madhan Raja – MSME
- K. Jegatheeswari – Social Welfare
- S. Rajesh Kumar – Tourism
- M. Vijay Balaji – Handlooms, Textiles and Khadi
- D. Lokesh Tamilselvan – Commercial Taxes and Registration
- A. Vijay Tamizhan Parthiban – Transport
- Ramesh – Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments
- P. Viswanathan – Higher Education
- R. Kumar – Artificial Intelligence and Information Technology
- K. Thennarasu – Welfare of Non-Resident Tamils
- V. Sampathkumar – Backward Classes Welfare
- J. Mohamed Parvaaz – Labour Welfare and Skill Development
- D. Sarathkumar – Human Resources Management
- N. Maria Wilson – Finance, Planning and Development
- K. Vignesh – Prohibition and Excise
Maria Wialson, who got the Finance portfolio in Vijay’s Cabinet
TVK leader N. Maria Wilson has been assigned the Finance, Planning and Development portfolio after the reshuffle.
Senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan, who previously handled Finance, has now been moved to Revenue and Disaster Management.
Which Congress leaders became ministers in Tamil Nadu?
Congress MLAs S Rajesh Kumar and P Viswanathan were inducted into the Cabinet as part of the TVK-Congress alliance arrangement.
- S Rajesh Kumar received the Tourism portfolio
- P Viswanathan was allocated Higher Education
Their induction marks Congress’ return to power in Tamil Nadu after 59 years.
Who are the women ministers in Vijay’s Cabinet?
The expanded Cabinet includes four women ministers:
- S. Kamali – Animal Husbandry
- C. Vijayalakshmi – Dairy Development
- K. Jegatheeswari – Social Welfare
- N. Maria Wilson – Finance, Planning and Development
K. Jegatheeswari has also taken over the Women Welfare-related responsibilities previously held by Chief Minister Vijay.
Why is this Cabinet expansion politically significant?
The Cabinet expansion is being seen as a major political shift in Tamil Nadu because alliance partners have traditionally not been accommodated in government by the state’s dominant Dravidian parties.
Congress leaders described the move as historic, while TVK leaders said the Cabinet reflects Chief Minister Vijay’s attempt to bring younger and first-generation politicians into governance.
The swearing-in ceremony was held at Lok Bhavan, where Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to the newly inducted ministers.
How many ministers can Tamil Nadu have?
Under Article 164(1A) of the Constitution, the size of a state Cabinet cannot exceed 15 per cent of the total Assembly strength.
With 234 MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, the maximum number of ministers allowed is 35, including the Chief Minister.
Following the latest expansion, the Vijay government now has 33 ministers, leaving room for two more inductions later.
