May 16, 2026

Tamil Nadu CM Vijay NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan on Saturday announced the portfolio allocation for the newly formed Tamil Nadu Cabinet led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, days after the actor-turned-politician took oath following his party’s landmark victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.According to the official notification, portfolios were assigned to 10 ministers, including Vijay, who retained key departments being home, police, and public administration. The allocation marks the latest major administrative development of the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government after it ended decades of alternating rule between the DMK and AIADMK in the state.Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister earlier this month after TVK emerged as the single largest party and secured support from alliance partners to form the government. The new Cabinet includes a mix of senior party leaders and first-time legislators handling departments including education, electricity, municipal administration, and social welfare.Who got whatHere’s the list of 10 ministers and their allocated portfolios in the state governmentChief Minister C Joseph Vijay will handle public administration, general administration, police, women welfare, and youth development portfolios. He has also separated sports development as an independent ministry, marking a departure from the previous DMK structure.Aadhav Arjuna has been allocated the public works department and will also handle sports development.N Anand has been assigned the rural development portfolio.K A Sengottaiyan has been appointed finance minister.K G Arunraj will serve as health minister.CTR Nirmal Kumar will oversee energy resources and the law department.Rajmohan has been given school education, along with information & publicity and tamil development, including archaeology.S Keerthana has been assigned the industries portfolio.P Venkataraman will handle food and civil supplies.T K Prabhu has been appointed minister for natural resources.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Jhalmuri Reached Here Too?’: PM Modi Invokes Bengal Polls In Netherlands, Lauds Indian DiasporaRampur Court Sentences Azam Khan To 2 Years In 2019 Speech Case, SP Veteran Faces Fresh Legal BlowRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’Delhi Court Grants Robert Vadra Bail In Shikohpur Land Deal Money Laundering Case,ED Probe ContinuesMamata Banerjee Tells Leaders Free To Leave TMC, Vows To Rebuild Party After Bengal Poll RoutJamiat Attacks Bhojshala Verdict, Says Ayodhya Judgment Opened Door To New Religious Site DisputesLiquor Row Turns Political In J&K: BJP Protests Outside Omar Abdullah Residence, NC Defends PolicyIndia-UAE Sign Major Energy Pact As UAE To Store 30 Million Barrels In India’s Strategic Oil ReserveIran Calls Chabahar Port India’s “Golden Gate” To Central Asia, Urges Continued Cooperation123Photostories8 vegetarian foods Indians used before protein powder existed5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large8 local Indian foods loved around the worldHow to grow Mint endlessly in your balcony garden using kitchen scraps: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersHuma Qureshi brings Banaras to Cannes in royal purple saree with Riviera-inspired palm motifs5 signs a mother is mentally exhaustedNational Dengue Day 2026: Doctors warn Dengue is now a year-round threat, and families are still missing early signs6 delicious traditional Indian dishes made with rice flour6 signs your child is ready for preschoolJannat Zubair’s home, ‘gilded’ in gold and neutrals, is effortlessly luxurious: Artsy inspirations to take away123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeWho is Shubham KhairnarIndia UA Trade Talk

Vamsikrishna02 mins mins
Tamil Nadu CM Vijay NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan on Saturday announced the portfolio allocation for the newly formed Tamil Nadu Cabinet led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, days after the actor-turned-politician took oath following his party’s landmark victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.According to the official notification, portfolios were assigned to 10 ministers, including Vijay, who retained key departments being home, police, and public administration. The allocation marks the latest major administrative development of the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government after it ended decades of alternating rule between the DMK and AIADMK in the state.Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister earlier this month after TVK emerged as the single largest party and secured support from alliance partners to form the government. The new Cabinet includes a mix of senior party leaders and first-time legislators handling departments including education, electricity, municipal administration, and social welfare.Who got whatHere’s the list of 10 ministers and their allocated portfolios in the state governmentChief Minister C Joseph Vijay will handle public administration, general administration, police, women welfare, and youth development portfolios. He has also separated sports development as an independent ministry, marking a departure from the previous DMK structure.Aadhav Arjuna has been allocated the public works department and will also handle sports development.N Anand has been assigned the rural development portfolio.K A Sengottaiyan has been appointed finance minister.K G Arunraj will serve as health minister.CTR Nirmal Kumar will oversee energy resources and the law department.Rajmohan has been given school education, along with information & publicity and tamil development, including archaeology.S Keerthana has been assigned the industries portfolio.P Venkataraman will handle food and civil supplies.T K Prabhu has been appointed minister for natural resources.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideos’Jhalmuri Reached Here Too?’: PM Modi Invokes Bengal Polls In Netherlands, Lauds Indian DiasporaRampur Court Sentences Azam Khan To 2 Years In 2019 Speech Case, SP Veteran Faces Fresh Legal BlowRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’Delhi Court Grants Robert Vadra Bail In Shikohpur Land Deal Money Laundering Case,ED Probe ContinuesMamata Banerjee Tells Leaders Free To Leave TMC, Vows To Rebuild Party After Bengal Poll RoutJamiat Attacks Bhojshala Verdict, Says Ayodhya Judgment Opened Door To New Religious Site DisputesLiquor Row Turns Political In J&K: BJP Protests Outside Omar Abdullah Residence, NC Defends PolicyIndia-UAE Sign Major Energy Pact As UAE To Store 30 Million Barrels In India’s Strategic Oil ReserveIran Calls Chabahar Port India’s “Golden Gate” To Central Asia, Urges Continued Cooperation123Photostories8 vegetarian foods Indians used before protein powder existed5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large8 local Indian foods loved around the worldHow to grow Mint endlessly in your balcony garden using kitchen scraps: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersHuma Qureshi brings Banaras to Cannes in royal purple saree with Riviera-inspired palm motifs5 signs a mother is mentally exhaustedNational Dengue Day 2026: Doctors warn Dengue is now a year-round threat, and families are still missing early signs6 delicious traditional Indian dishes made with rice flour6 signs your child is ready for preschoolJannat Zubair’s home, ‘gilded’ in gold and neutrals, is effortlessly luxurious: Artsy inspirations to take away123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeWho is Shubham KhairnarIndia UA Trade Talk


Tamil Nadu cabinet: 10 ministers allotted portfolios, CM Vijay keeps home, police & public administration

NEW DELHI: The Tamil Nadu Lok Bhavan on Saturday announced the portfolio allocation for the newly formed Tamil Nadu Cabinet led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, days after the actor-turned-politician took oath following his party’s landmark victory in the 2026 Assembly elections.According to the official notification, portfolios were assigned to 10 ministers, including Vijay, who retained key departments being home, police, and public administration. The allocation marks the latest major administrative development of the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government after it ended decades of alternating rule between the DMK and AIADMK in the state.Vijay was sworn in as Chief Minister earlier this month after TVK emerged as the single largest party and secured support from alliance partners to form the government. The new Cabinet includes a mix of senior party leaders and first-time legislators handling departments including education, electricity, municipal administration, and social welfare.Who got whatHere’s the list of 10 ministers and their allocated portfolios in the state government

  • Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay will handle public administration, general administration, police, women welfare, and youth development portfolios. He has also separated sports development as an independent ministry, marking a departure from the previous DMK structure.
  • Aadhav Arjuna has been allocated the public works department and will also handle sports development.
  • N Anand has been assigned the rural development portfolio.
  • K A Sengottaiyan has been appointed finance minister.
  • K G Arunraj will serve as health minister.
  • CTR Nirmal Kumar will oversee energy resources and the law department.
  • Rajmohan has been given school education, along with information & publicity and tamil development, including archaeology.
  • S Keerthana has been assigned the industries portfolio.
  • P Venkataraman will handle food and civil supplies.
  • T K Prabhu has been appointed minister for natural resources.



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Images/PTI NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday announced the first-ever seizure of Captagon, also known as the ‘Jihadi drug’, worth Rs 182 crore.In a post on X, Shah said the seizure was made under ‘Operation Ragepill’ and described it as a major breakthrough in the Centre’s crackdown on international drug trafficking networks.”Modi govt is resolved for a ‘Drug-Free India’. 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Images/PTI NEW DELHI: Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday announced the first-ever seizure of Captagon, also known as the ‘Jihadi drug’, worth Rs 182 crore.In a post on X, Shah said the seizure was made under ‘Operation Ragepill’ and described it as a major breakthrough in the Centre’s crackdown on international drug trafficking networks.”Modi govt is resolved for a ‘Drug-Free India’. 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The NCB has also launched a detailed probe into the international drug trafficking network, including hawala links and logistics chains.Why Captagon is called ‘Jihadi drug’? Captagon has often been referred to as the ‘Jihadi drug’ due to allegations over the years linking its trafficking and consumption with extremist and conflict-zone networks operating in parts of West Asia. International agencies have identified the Captagon trade as one of the biggest emerging synthetic drug threats in the region.Officials said the drug’s low production cost and high illegal demand have made it a major source of illicit financing for organised criminal syndicates and extremist-linked networks.The announcement comes amid the Centre’s broader anti-drug crackdown. 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Vamsikrishna 0
KC Venugopal, Rahul Gandhi and VD Satheesan (R) NEW DELHI: After 10 days of high-voltage drama (read embarrassment), the Congress on Thursday finally announced V D Satheesan as its chief minister pick for Kerala – a state it won with a thumping margin to end the 10-year rule of the CPM-led Left Front. Ironically, Kerala, which gave the most overwhelming verdict in this round of assembly elections, will get its government last. The BJP, which won West Bengal and Assam with convincing margins, acted with urgency and installed its governments. Even Vijay, despite not having a majority, moved faster than the Congress, became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu and even won the trust vote. The delay notwithstanding, what makes Satheesan’s appointment truly significant is the fact that he managed to pip a party heavyweight K C Venugopal to the top post. Venugopal, who is the AICC general secretary (organisation), is a close confidant of Rahul Gandhi and one of the most prominent Congress faces at the Centre. Reports suggested that his candidature had the backing of Rahul.Satheesan struck a careful balance between gratitude, humility and political messaging in his first reaction after being chosen by the Congress high command as the 13th chief minister of the state, declaring that the massive UDF victory belonged not to an individual leader but to “Team UDF” and lakhs of party workers.Venugopal, on his part, accepted the party’s decision and congratulated Satheesan. “So, that is my stand now. I humbly accept the party high command decision and will work to implement it. I am a loyal Congressman. For me the party is everything. I don’t want an image at the cost of the party. I want to die shrouded in the party flag. Will give all support to the government in Kerala,” Venugopal said. What made the race interesting? So, basically the race for Kerala’s chief minister post became a fight between a state heavyweight who had spearheaded the Congress campaign against the Left rule for five years and a national heavyweight who wielded great clout in running the party. This was not just an uneven contest but also a very difficult one for Satheesan. We all know Rahul Gandhi holds no post in the party after he quit as president in 2019 but he influences all important decisions taken by it. So, Satheesan was basically up against Rahul’s reported preferred choice for the CM’s post. Logically, if Venugopal was not Rahul’s choice, why would he be there in the race leaving his national responsibilities. The fact that the state heavyweight could emerge a winner despite that suggests the strong backing his candidature would have got from others who matter in the party. Two others besides Rahul who matter in the Congress are from the Gandhi family – Sonia and Priyanka. Clearly, Satheesan would have had the backing of at least one of them. Who is that one person we do not know and perhaps we will never know. But what we know is that besides these two, perhaps no one else can have a bigger influence than Rahul in taking key decisions. That perhaps explains why the decision to announce the next chief minister of Kerala involved such hectic parleys and took a long time. There were several rounds of consultations from Kerala to New Delhi. The Congress top leadership held meetings with the contenders. The party observers took views of the 63 newly elected MLAs. Interestingly, Congress did not contradict reports that bulk of the new MLAs had favoured K C Venugopal for the top post – fortifying his claims. Perhaps Rahul and the Congress leadership knew that deciding CM on the basis of MLAs preference would be fraught with dangers as not many of them would have the courage to oppose Venugopal given his proximity to Rahul Gandhi and the resultant clout he wields in the party. With neither of the two contenders willing to back down, Rahul held one-on-one deliberations with eight former state Congress chiefs at Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence to assess the mood on the ground. The fact that these meetings were held at Sonia’s residence points to her intervention in ending this impasse. Some reports citing sources claim that it was Sonia’s intervention that finally settled the issue. Priyanka Gandhi, who is the party MP from Wayanad in Kerala, did not speak on the issue in the last 10 days. However, her opinion would have definitely weighed on the Congress decision-makers.Satheesan’s eventual appointment would suggest that most of these leaders would have picked him over KC Venugopal. Clearly, the Congress general secretary would perhaps be left wondering why he lost the race despite Rahul’s backing. Is the power centre within the Congress shifting?End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’Delhi Court Grants Robert Vadra Bail In Shikohpur Land Deal Money Laundering Case,ED Probe ContinuesMamata Banerjee Tells Leaders Free To Leave TMC, Vows To Rebuild Party After Bengal Poll RoutJamiat Attacks Bhojshala Verdict, Says Ayodhya Judgment Opened Door To New Religious Site DisputesLiquor Row Turns Political In J&K: BJP Protests Outside Omar Abdullah Residence, NC Defends PolicyIndia-UAE Sign Major Energy Pact As UAE To Store 30 Million Barrels In India’s Strategic Oil ReserveIran Calls Chabahar Port India’s “Golden Gate” To Central Asia, Urges Continued CooperationFIR Filed Against Abhishek Banerjee|TMC Alleges Poll Manipulation, Post-Poll Violence in West Bengal’Not An Iota Of Truth’: PM Modi Rubbishes Report Of Restriction On Foreign Travel123Photostories5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large8 local Indian foods loved around the worldHow to grow Mint endlessly in your balcony garden using kitchen scraps: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersHuma Qureshi brings Banaras to Cannes in royal purple saree with Riviera-inspired palm motifs5 signs a mother is mentally exhaustedNational Dengue Day 2026: Doctors warn Dengue is now a year-round threat, and families are still missing early signs6 delicious traditional Indian dishes made with rice flour6 signs your child is ready for preschoolJannat Zubair’s home, ‘gilded’ in gold and neutrals, is effortlessly luxurious: Artsy inspirations to take away8 famous Indian street foods that were once royal dishes123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeWho is Shubham KhairnarIndia UA Trade Talk

KC Venugopal, Rahul Gandhi and VD Satheesan (R) NEW DELHI: After 10 days of high-voltage drama (read embarrassment), the Congress on Thursday finally announced V D Satheesan as its chief minister pick for Kerala – a state it won with a thumping margin to end the 10-year rule of the CPM-led Left Front. Ironically, Kerala, which gave the most overwhelming verdict in this round of assembly elections, will get its government last. The BJP, which won West Bengal and Assam with convincing margins, acted with urgency and installed its governments. Even Vijay, despite not having a majority, moved faster than the Congress, became the chief minister of Tamil Nadu and even won the trust vote. The delay notwithstanding, what makes Satheesan’s appointment truly significant is the fact that he managed to pip a party heavyweight K C Venugopal to the top post. Venugopal, who is the AICC general secretary (organisation), is a close confidant of Rahul Gandhi and one of the most prominent Congress faces at the Centre. Reports suggested that his candidature had the backing of Rahul.Satheesan struck a careful balance between gratitude, humility and political messaging in his first reaction after being chosen by the Congress high command as the 13th chief minister of the state, declaring that the massive UDF victory belonged not to an individual leader but to “Team UDF” and lakhs of party workers.Venugopal, on his part, accepted the party’s decision and congratulated Satheesan. “So, that is my stand now. I humbly accept the party high command decision and will work to implement it. I am a loyal Congressman. For me the party is everything. I don’t want an image at the cost of the party. I want to die shrouded in the party flag. Will give all support to the government in Kerala,” Venugopal said. What made the race interesting? So, basically the race for Kerala’s chief minister post became a fight between a state heavyweight who had spearheaded the Congress campaign against the Left rule for five years and a national heavyweight who wielded great clout in running the party. This was not just an uneven contest but also a very difficult one for Satheesan. We all know Rahul Gandhi holds no post in the party after he quit as president in 2019 but he influences all important decisions taken by it. So, Satheesan was basically up against Rahul’s reported preferred choice for the CM’s post. Logically, if Venugopal was not Rahul’s choice, why would he be there in the race leaving his national responsibilities. The fact that the state heavyweight could emerge a winner despite that suggests the strong backing his candidature would have got from others who matter in the party. Two others besides Rahul who matter in the Congress are from the Gandhi family – Sonia and Priyanka. Clearly, Satheesan would have had the backing of at least one of them. Who is that one person we do not know and perhaps we will never know. But what we know is that besides these two, perhaps no one else can have a bigger influence than Rahul in taking key decisions. That perhaps explains why the decision to announce the next chief minister of Kerala involved such hectic parleys and took a long time. There were several rounds of consultations from Kerala to New Delhi. The Congress top leadership held meetings with the contenders. The party observers took views of the 63 newly elected MLAs. Interestingly, Congress did not contradict reports that bulk of the new MLAs had favoured K C Venugopal for the top post – fortifying his claims. Perhaps Rahul and the Congress leadership knew that deciding CM on the basis of MLAs preference would be fraught with dangers as not many of them would have the courage to oppose Venugopal given his proximity to Rahul Gandhi and the resultant clout he wields in the party. With neither of the two contenders willing to back down, Rahul held one-on-one deliberations with eight former state Congress chiefs at Sonia Gandhi’s 10, Janpath residence to assess the mood on the ground. The fact that these meetings were held at Sonia’s residence points to her intervention in ending this impasse. Some reports citing sources claim that it was Sonia’s intervention that finally settled the issue. Priyanka Gandhi, who is the party MP from Wayanad in Kerala, did not speak on the issue in the last 10 days. However, her opinion would have definitely weighed on the Congress decision-makers.Satheesan’s eventual appointment would suggest that most of these leaders would have picked him over KC Venugopal. Clearly, the Congress general secretary would perhaps be left wondering why he lost the race despite Rahul’s backing. Is the power centre within the Congress shifting?End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosRG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’RG Kar Case Back In Spotlight As BJP MLA Ratna Debnath Calls Mamata Banerjee ‘Head Of Criminals’Delhi Court Grants Robert Vadra Bail In Shikohpur Land Deal Money Laundering Case,ED Probe ContinuesMamata Banerjee Tells Leaders Free To Leave TMC, Vows To Rebuild Party After Bengal Poll RoutJamiat Attacks Bhojshala Verdict, Says Ayodhya Judgment Opened Door To New Religious Site DisputesLiquor Row Turns Political In J&K: BJP Protests Outside Omar Abdullah Residence, NC Defends PolicyIndia-UAE Sign Major Energy Pact As UAE To Store 30 Million Barrels In India’s Strategic Oil ReserveIran Calls Chabahar Port India’s “Golden Gate” To Central Asia, Urges Continued CooperationFIR Filed Against Abhishek Banerjee|TMC Alleges Poll Manipulation, Post-Poll Violence in West Bengal’Not An Iota Of Truth’: PM Modi Rubbishes Report Of Restriction On Foreign Travel123Photostories5 adorable pet dog breeds that grow tall and large8 local Indian foods loved around the worldHow to grow Mint endlessly in your balcony garden using kitchen scraps: Simple step-by-step guide for beginnersHuma Qureshi brings Banaras to Cannes in royal purple saree with Riviera-inspired palm motifs5 signs a mother is mentally exhaustedNational Dengue Day 2026: Doctors warn Dengue is now a year-round threat, and families are still missing early signs6 delicious traditional Indian dishes made with rice flour6 signs your child is ready for preschoolJannat Zubair’s home, ‘gilded’ in gold and neutrals, is effortlessly luxurious: Artsy inspirations to take away8 famous Indian street foods that were once royal dishes123Hot PicksCBSE class 12 resultUS Iran warPrateek YadavHaryana election resultForeign outflowNEET exam cancelledTamil Nadu assemblyTop TrendingRishabh PantNEET PaperIPL Points TableNEET Aspirant DieKerala Board SSLC Result 2026IPL 2026IPL Orange Cap 2026Bengaluru RapeWho is Shubham KhairnarIndia UA Trade Talk

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