Actor-turned-politician submits resignation from one of two seats he won, retains Perambur constituency as he assumes office as Chief Minister.
Tamil Nadu’s newly sworn-in Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has formally resigned as Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from the Tiruchirappalli East constituency, just one day after taking oath.
Vijay, who led his nascent party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to a stunning debut victory in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, had contested and won from two seats-Perambur and Tiruchirappalli (Trichy) East. Under Indian law, an elected representative can retain only one seat, prompting the resignation from the second constituency.
A formal yet symbolic step:
The resignation letter was submitted to the Tamil Nadu Assembly Secretariat on Sunday through senior TVK leaders. Vijay has chosen to retain the Perambur seat in northern Chennai, which he won by a significant margin.
The move paves the way for a by-election in Tiruchirappalli East in the coming months. Political observers view the development as a standard constitutional requirement rather than a political surprise, but it marks the formal beginning of Vijay’s legislative responsibilities as Chief Minister.
TVK’s Historic Win Reshapes Tamil Nadu Politics:
TVK’s victory in the 2026 elections has been described as historic, ending the long-standing dominance of the two major Dravidian parties-DMK and AIADMK-in Tamil Nadu politics. Vijay was sworn in as the state’s Chief Minister on May 10, 2026.
Supporters see his rise from popular film star to head of government as a major shift in the state’s political landscape, driven by strong anti-incumbency and promises of clean governance.
The Election Commission of India is expected to notify the vacancy in Tiruchirappalli East shortly, triggering the process for a fresh poll in the constituency.