Tamil Nadu Cabinet Sees Congress Return After 59 Years The Tamil Nadu government has marked a historic moment in its political history by formally including the Congress party in its cabinet for the first time in nearly six decades. Following the announcement of the state cabinet expansion, two Congress legislators—Rajesh Kumar from Kiliyur constituency and Viswanathan from Meenur constituency—will assume ministerial roles. This development has sparked significant anticipation across political circles, as it represents a rare alignment between the ruling Tamil Maamalai Naadu (TMN) party and the Congress, a major opposition force in the state. The Congress’s return to the cabinet is particularly notable given that the party had not held any ministerial positions in Tamil Nadu since 1967. The last time the Congress participated in the state cabinet was during the tenure of P. Bhaskaralingam, who led the party’s government until its defeat in 1967. Since then, the state’s political landscape has been dominated by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and its allies, with the Congress largely excluded from power. This marks the first time in over 59 years that Congress members have been granted cabinet positions in Tamil Nadu. The decision to include Congress representatives in the cabinet was finalized by the All India Congress Committee (AICC), with the approval of AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge and Lok Sabha Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi. The information was subsequently shared by Congress general secretary K.C. Venugopal on his X account, confirming the appointments. The move is seen as a strategic effort to strengthen the ruling alliance, which includes the TMN party and several smaller parties.#tamil_nadu #congress_party #tamil_maamalai_naadu #rajesh_kumar #viswanathan
