Published May 12, 2026 | 4:09 PM ⚊ Updated May 12, 2026 | 4:09 PM
Vijay taking oath as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on 10 May 2026.
Despite winning 108 seats, 10 short of the required majority of 118, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVM) president C Joseph Vijay formed his government after additional stars (read MLAs) aligned in his favour in Tamil Nadu.
Cine artistes and politicians are known to consult astrologers, though they seldom admit it in public. Vijay, with 70 movies (one is yet to hit the screens) under his belt, is reportedly one among them.
Vijay had already announced his retirement from the entertainment industry before donning the matte-black suit — a tectonic shift from the white dhoti, shirt, and dark sunglasses (often seen long after sunset, too) of the reel- and real-life characters in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
The Zafir Ahmed-designed suit that Vijay wore in Chennai’s summer, many felt, reflected the change in Tamil Nadu politics. However, certain things deeper seldom change — or so it seems — irrespective of the costume.
Vijay apparently knows that modern-day realpolitik is different from the politics he had taken head-on in Tamil thrillers that had won him a huge fan following within the state and outside. In real politics, Vijay, or any other politician, needs more luck and, more importantly, should have the ability to foretell future developments.
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The Chief Minister has now appointed Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as an Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in his office. Vettrivel, it is said, has been Vijay’s personal astrologer for a long time. He had also functioned as a TVK spokesperson.
Principal Secretary Reeta Harish Thakkar has issued an order appointing Vettrivel, effective from his date of joining.
Vijay, it is said, has a deep interest in spirituality and astrology, and many of his political decisions were made on his astrologer’s advice. Vettrivel is said to have been offering spiritual guidance to Vijay for the past two years.
TVK circles claimed that Vettrivel had predicted Vijay’s historic political victory in advance.
As a result, Vettrivel is considered to be among Vijay’s close confidants. Alongside his role as a spiritual adviser, he had also represented TVK in television debates as one of the party’s spokespersons.
Vijay is not the only actor-turned-chief minister associated with Vettrivel. The said astrologer’s website claimed that he had been a “spiritual mentor” to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.
Vettrivel’s appointment has drawn criticism from the Opposition parties as well as some of Vijay’s allies and supporters.
“Beats me. Why would an astrologer require an OSD position ?? Can anyone explain,” Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil posted on X.
Writer Aadhavan Dheetchanya, in his X post, remarked, “The Union government’s controversial practice of giving government posts through ‘lateral entry’ to favoured individuals has now reached the Tamil Nadu government as well.”
Meanwhile, certain social media circles are linking the appointment to remarks made earlier in the day by Opposition Leader Udhayanidhi Stalin in the Assembly.
While congratulating the Speaker, Udhayanidhi Stalin had said, “Sanatanam that divides people must certainly be eradicated.”
Following this, several pro-Sanatanam social media users claimed that Vijay’s decision to appoint his astrologer to a government advisory post was a political counter to Udhayanidhi’s remarks.
Some have argued online that the appointment reflects the kind of ideological and advisory influence under which the new government is likely to function.
