Chennai, Tamil Nadu — May 13, 2026

The newly formed government of the Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) faced a major political embarrassment on Wednesday after Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay ( Thalapathy Vijay ) revoked the appointment of his personal astrologer, Riki Radhan Pandit Vetrivel, as Officer on Special Duty (OSD-Political) following intense backlash from opposition parties, allies, and social media users.

The decision came only hours after the Vijay-led government secured a confidence vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, marking one of the first major controversies for the actor-turned-politician’s administration.

The appointment had triggered widespread criticism across the political spectrum, with opponents accusing the government of promoting superstition and misusing taxpayer-funded public offices.

Astrologer’s Appointment Triggered Political Firestorm

The controversy erupted after an official government order issued on Tuesday confirmed the appointment of Riki Radhan Pandit Vetrivel as OSD-Political to the Chief Minister.

Vetrivel, widely regarded as a close confidant of Vijay, had reportedly played an active role during the Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign. He also served as one of the public faces and spokespersons of the TVK campaign machinery.

The astrologer had earlier gained public attention after predicting what he described as a “tsunami-like victory” for Vijay ahead of the state election results.

However, the government’s decision to formally elevate him to an official administrative role quickly drew criticism from lawmakers, civil society groups, and online commentators, many of whom questioned the rationale behind appointing an astrologer to a taxpayer-funded government position.

Opposition Leaders Slam TVK Government

The issue rapidly escalated inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly during discussions on the confidence motion introduced by Chief Minister Vijay.

Several opposition legislators openly criticized the appointment, arguing that it undermined constitutional values and encouraged superstition instead of scientific thinking.

VCK Questions Scientific Temper

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) MLA Vanni Arasu strongly condemned the move, stating that a modern democratic government should promote scientific reasoning rather than astrology and blind belief systems.

Arasu reportedly argued that such appointments sent the wrong message to the public, especially at a time when governments are expected to encourage rational thinking and evidence-based governance.

DMDK Leader Premalatha Vijayakanth Raises Concerns

DMDK leader Premalatha Vijayakanth also attacked the decision, questioning why a personal adviser needed to be granted an official government designation.

She stated that if Vetrivel was merely a private adviser to the Chief Minister, he could have continued in an unofficial capacity rather than being appointed to a formal public office funded by taxpayers.

Premalatha further questioned the message such an appointment would send to educated youth and professionals in the state, suggesting that it could damage public confidence in institutional governance.

Congress and Left Parties Join Criticism

The controversy soon spilled beyond the Assembly floor and exploded across social media platforms.

Congress MP and former IAS officer Sasikanth Senthil criticized the appointment online, asking why an astrologer required a political OSD role within the Chief Minister’s Office.

Leaders from Left parties also launched sharp attacks on the government.

CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam and CPI leader M. Veerapandian condemned the decision, calling it inconsistent with constitutional principles, secular governance, and scientific temper.

The criticism reflected a broader political concern that official recognition of astrologers within governance structures could blur the lines between personal belief and public administration.

Questions Raised Over Government Priorities

Political analysts noted that the controversy emerged at a sensitive time for the newly elected TVK administration, which is still attempting to establish credibility as a serious governing force after its historic electoral debut.

Critics argued that the government should focus on policy implementation, economic issues, employment, and welfare delivery rather than symbolic appointments likely to trigger ideological debate.

The backlash also highlighted the growing scrutiny surrounding Vijay’s transition from cinema icon to Chief Minister, with every administrative decision now being examined through a political and institutional lens.

Several commentators observed that the swift reversal of the appointment suggested the government recognized the political damage the issue could cause during its opening days in office.

Who Is Riki Radhan Pandit Vetrivel?

Riki Radhan Pandit Vetrivel is known in Tamil political circles as an astrologer and numerology consultant with connections to prominent political figures.

According to claims on his official website, he previously shared close ties with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J. Jayalalithaa and had advised sections of the AIADMK leadership on political timing, legal matters, electoral strategies, and numerology-based decision-making.

His visibility reportedly increased during the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election campaign after publicly predicting Vijay’s landslide electoral success.

Despite his political proximity to the TVK leadership, the backlash against his official appointment demonstrated the limits of public acceptance when private advisers are absorbed into formal government structures.

TVK Government Withdraws Appointment Order

Facing mounting pressure from opposition parties, coalition allies, and public criticism, the TVK government ultimately withdrew the appointment order on Wednesday.

The move appeared aimed at containing political damage before the controversy overshadowed the new administration’s early governance agenda.

Neither the Chief Minister’s Office nor Vetrivel issued a detailed public statement immediately after the cancellation of the appointment.

However, political observers believe the episode serves as an early warning sign for the Vijay administration about the challenges of balancing personal loyalty, public perception, and institutional accountability in government.

Political Impact on Vijay’s Government

The controversy marks the first significant governance setback for Chief Minister Vijay since assuming office.

While the government successfully survived the confidence vote in the Assembly, the astrologer appointment episode has already become a major talking point in Tamil Nadu politics.

Analysts believe opposition parties may continue using the issue to question the TVK government’s administrative judgment and commitment to rational governance principles.

At the same time, supporters of Vijay argue that the swift rollback demonstrates the government’s willingness to respond to public sentiment and correct controversial decisions quickly.

As Tamil Nadu enters a new political era under Vijay’s leadership, the administration’s handling of future controversies will likely play a crucial role in shaping public confidence and long-term political stability.