Chennai | TVK chief C Joseph Vijay on Sunday attempted to make a powerful address during his oath-taking as CM, but Tamil Nadu Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar intervened and asked him to confine to the official oath.
Vijay tried to go off the script by making hand gestures to signify strength and power.
Immediately after the Governor began to administer the oath to him, Vijay went off-script and started saying, "I, C Joseph Vijay, will stay true to the legally established Constitution of India.... as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, I will work honestly and dedicatedly to fulfil my responsibilities. I will adhere to the rule of law, work with honesty, remove hate, and will work honestly for all sections of the people. This I swear on god and take the oath," saying thus, Vijay raised his right hand as he swore on god and clenched his fist.
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam MLA-elect A Rajmohan, who was standing behind Vijay, clapped his hands in jubilation and party workers too erupted in joy. Vijay's parents, film maker S A Chandrasekhar and Shoba, present in front of the dais, turned emotional.
The Governor intervened and asked Vijay to read out the official oath from the paper provided to him. Vijay sought some clarification from the Governor and read out from the written oath.
He took the oath on God, and shortly after his ministers were sworn in, Vijay made three announcements on the rollout of 200 units of free electricity to domestic consumers using up to 500 units per billing cycle, setting up a women's protection force and an anti-narcotic task force to eradicate drugs.
Shortly after being sworn in as CM and signing his first official documents, Vijay personally helped the officials move a table from the stage. He took a group selfie with the Governor, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, other dignitaries on the dais and the audience, as well, on the occasion.
The Greater Chennai Corporation had arranged a live screening of the swearing-in ceremony of Vijay on LED screens installed at over 20 locations across the city to enable the public to witness the event.
