Vijay's inner circle faces scrutiny over unofficial roles in Tamil Nadu government
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's close associates are under increasing scrutiny after opposition parties raised questions about their roles in government. The DMK has filed a complaint seeking an FIR against political strategist John Arokiasamy and close aide Vishnu Reddy, alleging they attended Cabinet meetings and other confidential proceedings without official authorisation. The DMK claims this violates the Official Secrets Act and the chief minister's oath of secrecy.
Top sources in Vijay's party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), defend the appointments, stating that necessary government orders authorise both men to be part of critical meetings. 'They are not private persons anymore,' a TVK leader said, though the government has not publicly released these orders, leading to persistent questions about transparency.
The issue extends beyond Arokiasamy and Reddy. Vijay's long-time manager Jagadish Palaniswamy announced his own appointment as Private Secretary to the Chief Minister via an Instagram birthday post. Similarly, K Venkata Narayana, a film producer linked to Vijay's unreleased film, was appointed Tamil Nadu's Special Representative in New Delhi—a Cabinet-rank post. Cinematographer Manoj Paramahamsa, who worked on several Vijay films, now heads the state's film institute.
Vijay's supporters argue that professionals from the film industry bring valuable skills in management and logistics to governance. Critics, however, see these appointments as a blurring of lines between personal loyalty and public office. The controversy highlights the tension between leveraging trusted expertise and maintaining clear accountability in government.
