On Thursday, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay expanded his cabinet, marking a historic inclusion of Congress members for the first time in nearly 60 years. During the ceremony at Lok Bhavan, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath to two Congress leaders, Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan, alongside 21 members from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). This expansion follows Vijay's recommendation to induct 23 MLAs into the Council of Ministers, which now totals 35 members, with 33 having taken their oaths. The Congress party celebrated its strong electoral performance, achieving a 100% strike rate in Tamil Nadu, which contributed to the coalition government. Leaders from Congress hailed the cabinet as a 'secular progressive' coalition, emphasizing the people's desire for representation. Chief Minister Vijay expressed his intention for the cabinet to operate cohesively, ensuring all alliance partners are represented. The 2026 Assembly elections were pivotal, as the TVK emerged as the largest party, leading to a significant political shift in Tamil Nadu's governance.