C Joseph Vijay took office as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, becoming the first leader from outside the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) parties in almost 60 years. In his inaugural address, Vijay emphasized a commitment to real secularism and social justice, asserting that he would be the sole authority in governance. He acknowledged the state's overwhelming debt of ₹10 lakh crore and promised to release a white paper detailing the financial situation. Vijay's administration has already prioritized initiatives such as 200 units of free electricity for low-consumption households and the establishment of a special force for women's safety. The ceremony was attended by notable figures, including Rahul Gandhi, and saw nine senior leaders from his party, the Tamil Nadu Vanniyar Katchi (TVK), sworn in as ministers. However, the event was marred by controversy regarding the order of the Tamil invocation during the ceremony, which was criticized by CPI state secretary M Veerapandiyan. Former Chief Minister MK Stalin congratulated Vijay but countered his claims about the financial state of the government, asserting that the previous administration had successfully implemented welfare schemes despite challenges.