A political controversy has overshadowed the first day of C. Joseph Vijay’s tenure as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister. The row centers on the traditional rendition of the state song, ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’, which was moved to third place during the official swearing-in ceremony at the Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, following ‘Vande Mataram’ and the National Anthem.
Traditionally, government events in Tamil Nadu begin with the Tamil invocation and conclude with the National Anthem. The sudden departure from this protocol has drawn sharp criticism from both allies and opposition leaders.
CPI Condemns “Violation of Tradition”
M. Veerapandian, the State Secretary of the CPI, led the criticism, labeling the change a violation of long-standing state protocol. He specifically questioned the influence of the Raj Bhavan (Governor’s office) in the decision.
Veerapandian also raised historical objections to ‘Vande Mataram’ being given precedence, arguing that the song possesses a “sectarian religious character” that had been addressed as far back as the freedom struggle. He has demanded a public explanation from the government to identify those responsible for the reshuffle.
TVK Government Distances Itself
The newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government moved quickly to contain the fallout. Minister Aadhav Arjuna clarified on X (formerly Twitter) that the party does not support the altered sequence and remains committed to established conventions.
“In mother Tamil Nadu, the government formed under the leadership of TVK does not agree with the Tamil invocation song being played third,” Arjuna stated. He emphasized that the song is a symbol of Tamil pride and naturally holds precedence at state functions.
Governor Cites Union Government Circular
According to the TVK, the matter was raised with Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar following the ceremony. The Governor’s office reportedly explained that the arrangement was made in accordance with a new circular issued by the Union government, making the sequence “unavoidable” for the swearing-in event.
Commitment to Original Protocol
Despite the Governor’s explanation, the TVK has assured the public that this was a one-time occurrence. Minister Arjuna stated that future state functions would revert to the traditional practice:
-
Opening: Tamil invocation song.
-
Closing: National Anthem.
The TVK has further called on the Union government to take action to ensure that state language invocation songs are accorded appropriate prominence across all Indian states.
