For the second time in less than a week, a severe protocol row has erupted at Raj Bhavan, overshadowing the swearing-in ceremony of 23 new ministers in Chief Minister Joseph Vijay’s coalition government. In a blunt departure from decades of established state convention, the state invocation song, “Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu,” was played last in the musical lineup, triggering intense backlash from both ruling allies and the opposition.
The musical sequence of the ceremony deliberately mirrored the setup that sparked a massive political storm during CM Vijay’s individual swearing-in last week:
1. Vande Mataram (National Song) ──> 2. Jana Gana Mana (National Anthem) ──> 3. Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu (State Song)
The Institutional Blame Game: Union Directive vs. State Pride
The repeat of the incident has placed the newly formed Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government on the defensive, forced to answer to allies who had extracted an explicit guarantee just days ago that the state song would reclaim its traditional opening position.
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The TVK Defense: Senior TVK leaders immediately insulated the administration, shifting the blame entirely to the Governor’s office. “The Lok Bhavan organized today’s swearing-in, and hence the Tamil anthem was sung last. The Tamil Nadu government had zero role in it,” stated TVK leader Nanjil Sampath, promising that the state song would undisputedly air first when the Legislative Assembly convenes.
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The Union Mandate: The Governor’s office defended the order by citing a fresh, mandatory circular from the Union Ministry. The directive enforces the full inclusion and prime placement of Vande Mataram across all formal state events to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the national song.
Political Fallout: Allies Fume, DMK Capitalizes
| Political Faction | Official Reaction & Posture |
| DMK (Principal Opposition) | Launched a fierce offensive. Spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai posted on X: “What happened to the guarantee you gave? The TVK has failed yet again to protect Tamil rights.” |
| Congress (Coalition Ally) | Blamed the BJP for weaponizing the Governor’s office. MP S. Jothimani slammed the move as “very unfair and deeply harmful to the emotions of the Tamil people who value their distinct culture.” |
| CPI & MDMK (Left/Regional Allies) | CPI Secretary M. Veerapandiyan termed it a clear violation of convention. MDMK General Secretary Vaiko took a harder stance, demanding that the state government explicitly ban Vande Mataram from any official state-sponsored functions moving forward. |
Why This Sparked an Instant Firestorm
In Tamil Nadu, the placement of the state song is not a mere procedural detail—it is a deeply protected symbol of regional autonomy and linguistic pride. For over half a century, the immutable rule for any official event within the state has been to begin with Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu as a salute to the language and land, and conclude firmly with the national anthem, Jana Gana Mana.
By superimposing Vande Mataram at the absolute top of the order and pushing the state song to the tail-end, critics argue the Centre is attempting an ideological homogenization. For Chief Minister Vijay, who built his meteoric campaign on balancing federal cooperation with rigid Dravidian cultural preservation, this recurring standoff at Raj Bhavan presents his first major test in managing the friction between Central directives and intense regional sentiment.
