Cong to have 2 ministers in Tamil Nadu, to join TN cabinet after 59 yrs

The Congress party will regain its presence in the Tamil Nadu cabinet after 59 years, with two of its MLAs set to take oath as ministers on Thursday.

The Congress will be part of the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a gap of 59 years as two of its MLAs, Rajesh Kumar and P Vishwanathan, will take oath as ministers on Thursday, the party said on Wednesday.

Announcing the decision, AICC general secretary, organisation, K C Venugopal said, ''INC President Sh Mallikarjun Kharge ji has approved the induction of INC MLAs Adv. Rajesh Kumar and Thiru P Vishwanathan into the Tamil Nadu cabinet led by CM Thiru Vijay, and they will be taking oath as Ministers tomorrow.''.

''This is a historic occasion for us, as the Congress joins the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a long gap of 59 years!'' he said in a post on X.

''I convey my best wishes to them, we are confident that they will deliver on the hopes and aspirations of the people of Tamil Nadu, and will work to realise the bold vision of welfare and pro-people governance laid down by LOP Sh Rahul Gandhi ji,'' Venugopal said.

The Congress has five MLAs in the Tamil Nadu assembly after the just concluded assembly polls, in which the party contested in a pre-poll alliance with the DMK.

However, after Vijay's TVK fell short of a majority in the 234-member Tamil Nadu house, the Congress extended its support in government formation ro actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay.