Anthem row erupts again as ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’ placed 3rd at ministers’ swearing-in

A fresh political storm has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the placement of the ‘Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu’, during the swearing-in ceremony of newly inducted ministers of Vijay’s Cabinet. Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu was rendered third—following Vande Mataram (the national song) and Jana Gana Mana (the national anthem).

Traditionally, official public functions organized by the Tamil Nadu government commence with the state anthem to honour Tamil heritage and conclude with the national anthem. A similar dispute had previously occurred on May 10, during Chief Minister Vijay’s initial oath-taking ceremony. The repetition of this sequence has sparked intense debate over the perceived relegation of regional identity, especially from the Opposition and Left parties.

Criticism from other parties

Stating that the Tamil Nadu Governor should prioritise the Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, CPI state secretary M Veerapandian emphasised that the sentiments of the Tamil people should be taken into due consideration. "We reiterate that the Governor should pay more attention to prioritising the Tamil anthem. We respect India's national song and national anthem. But we reiterate that the Governor should give priority to the Tamil anthem," Veerapandian told reporters.

Also Read: Why the fury over Vande Mataram before Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu at Vijay's oath-taking

He further shielded the state government from blame, pointing out that the state assembly correctly prioritises the Tamil invocation song. CPI(M) state secretary P Shanmugam said when the issue of the Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu being sung last was taken up with the chief minister, the latter clarified the administrative protocols dictating the sequence.

Administrative mandates and TVK’s response

In response to the backlash, both the ruling TVK and state officials clarified that the organisation of the ceremony was completely outside the state government's jurisdiction. The ceremony was organized independently by the Raj Bhavan under Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. TVK minister Aadhav Arjuna noted that the Governor’s office cited a Union government circular dictating that Vande Mataram must be played first at all events featuring central representatives like the Governor, President, or Vice President.

Meanwhile, newly inducted TVK minister N Marie Wilson strongly defended the state government, emphasizing that the event's logistics were entirely out of their hands. "Both functions (May 10 and May 21 swearing-in ceremonies) were organised by the Governor's office. The state government had no role to play. We have clarified this earlier, and this remains our statement today," the finance minister said.

Also Read: Tamil anthem row: Aadhav Arjuna offers explanation, says TVK govt will follow old practice

The state government assured critics that this specific sequence remains restricted to Raj Bhavan functions and will strictly not apply to independent state-run events. "In future, this new practice will not be followed. Instead, as per the earlier practice, the Tamil invocation song will be played at the beginning of the event, and the national anthem at the end," Aadhav Arjuna said.