A fresh political controversy broke out in Tamil Nadu after Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu was rendered after Vande Mataram
May 21, 2026: A new political controversy erupted in Tamil Nadu on Thursday after Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu was sung last during the swearing-in ceremony of newly inducted ministers at Lok Bhavan. The event marked Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s first cabinet expansion, during which 21 TVK MLAs and two Congress legislators were sworn in by Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. Opposition voices and Left parties objected to the sequence in which Vande Mataram and the national anthem were played before the Tamil invocation song.
The issue revived memories of a similar controversy during Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony as Chief Minister on May 10, when Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu had also been rendered after Vande Mataram and Jana Gana Mana. Critics argued that the Tamil anthem has traditionally been sung first at state government functions in Tamil Nadu and should continue to receive priority in official ceremonies held within the state.
CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said the Governor should respect the sentiments of Tamil people by ensuring priority is given to Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu. He clarified that his party respects both the national anthem and Vande Mataram, but believes the Tamil anthem should lead government functions in Tamil Nadu. CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam stated that when the issue was raised with Chief Minister Vijay, he clarified that Vande Mataram would be played first at events attended by the Governor.