In a significant shift in Tamil Nadu politics, S Keerthana has been appointed as the youngest cabinet minister at just 29 years old in the newly formed government led by Chief Minister Vijay of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Born in 1996 in Virudhunagar district, she holds a BSc in Mathematics and an MSc in Statistics, which she completed in 2019 from Puducherry University. Keerthana won the Sivakasi seat in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with a margin exceeding 11,000 votes. Her rise marks a notable change in the political landscape, as the TVK has disrupted a six-decade dominance of Dravidian parties in the state. The party secured 108 seats in the elections and, with support from Congress and other parties, now commands a majority in the 234-member Assembly. Keerthana expressed optimism about the government's potential, stating that it aims to last for 35-50 years and is focused on meritocracy.