HERALDING a new era of coalition Government, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Friday completed his Cabinet expansion exercise by inducting two more MLAs, including a Dalit from the VCK, making it a rainbow Ministry that also has Brahmins. Senior VCK leader Vanni Arasu, a close aide of party chief Thol Thirumavalavan and IUML MLA A M Shahjahan took oath as Ministers. Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered them the oath of office and secrecry at simple ceremony in the Lok Bhavan. Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and others participated. The induction of VCK and the IUML legislators apparently irked the

 

DMK and its senior leader A Raja targeted the two parties, initially with a social media post which was later allegedly deleted, and another tweet attacking them. A subsequent war of words ensured between the concerned parties, even as and TVK leader and State Minister Aadhav Arjuna demanded that the Dravidian party leader apologise. Former Chief Minister and DMK President M K Stalin also stepped in to end the verbal fight. DMK Deputy

 

General Secretary Raja, without directly referring to VCK and IUML joining the TVK Cabinet, cited a literary term to describe a coconut tree from inside one’s garden bending towards the opposite house and providing tender coconut to the neighbour. Giving this example, he asked what term could be used in politics to describe a similar happening. Slamming Raja, Public Works Minister Aadhav Arjuna demanded an apology from the DMK leader. VCK said Raja’s remark, (not the coconut tree jibe but another post in social media which was allegedly deleted later) was tantamout to insult to women. Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, a noted Dalit party and Indian Union Muslim League celebrated the inclusion of their representatives in the Cabinet and Vanni Arasu told reporters that him taking over as minister was the perfect “dream come true” moment. “Winning power” was part of the vision of VCK Thirumavalavan and that has now been realised.