Chennai, August 16: The Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) government, led by Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, is celebrating its first 100 days in power. This marks a significant political shift in Tamil Nadu after over five decades of alternating rule between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
The newly formed political party, TVK, won the assembly elections in April and assumed office on May 10. Vijay took the oath as Chief Minister along with nine ministers, later expanding the cabinet to include 23 more ministers on May 21, followed by an additional two the next day.
Immediately upon taking office, Vijay signed three key files, including a scheme to provide 200 units of free electricity every two months to domestic consumers using up to 500 units, the proposal for a ‘Singappen Special Task Force’ for women’s safety, and the establishment of 65 anti-narcotics units.
The government has also closed 717 TASMAC liquor shops near educational institutions and places of worship. Additionally, the dearness allowance for government employees was increased from 58% to 60%, orders were issued for the renovation of Amma Canteens, and a loan waiver of up to ₹50,000 was announced for marginal farmers.
During his visit to New Delhi on May 27, CM Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss the Mekedatu dam dispute and issues faced by Tamil Nadu fishermen. On June 9, he launched the ‘Singappen Force’ and later announced a plan to provide gold rings to newborns in government hospitals.
The revised budget introduced several welfare measures, including eight grams of gold coins and silk sarees for brides, 70,000 permanent houses to replace huts, modern bicycles for 11th-grade students, and laptops for government college students.
State Finance Minister Maria Wilson stated that the budget incorporates 125 promises made during the elections. Industry has become a primary focus for the TVK government, which claims to have attracted over ₹1 lakh crore in investments through 104 agreements in its first 100 days.
At the ‘Vetri Tamil Nadu Investors Conclave’ alone, 97 agreements worth ₹67,452 crore were signed, potentially creating 1.07 lakh jobs across 23 districts.
However, the administration faces criticism from the opposition regarding law and order, sexual crimes, power outages, and poor waste management. Inexperienced ministers have also had to contend with DMK and AIADMK legislators in the assembly.
Despite these challenges, the government has projected an image of administrative readiness, expansion of welfare schemes, and vigilance against corruption. While the initial record appears promising, the implementation of its announcements and investments will determine whether these first 100 days lay the groundwork for lasting change.
Deependra Singh Chundawat is a Senior Sub-Editor at Udaipur Kiran, specializing in a wide range of technology topics including mobile phones, applications, gaming, PCs, and wearables. Along with covering the latest tech news, he also creates engaging web stories. Passionate about emerging technologies, he stays up to date with the newest trends and enjoys reading and writing about the latest mobile launches and digital innovations.