Two MLAs from the Congress were sworn into the Tamil Nadu Cabinet led by the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government on Thursday. This is the first time in 59 years that the party will be part of the state Cabinet.

Party leaders S Rajesh Kumar, representing Killiyoor, and P Viswanathan, who won from the Melur seat, took oath as ministers. Apart from them, 21 other legislators were also sworn in, expanding Chief Minister Vijay’s 10-member Cabinet.

Earlier on Wednesday, Congress general secretary KC Venugopal said that party chief Mallikarjun Kharge had approved the induction of Kumar and Viswanathan into the Council of Ministers.

“This is a historic occasion for us, as the Congress joins the Tamil Nadu cabinet after a long gap of 59 years!” Venugopal said on social media. “…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 [Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha] Rahul Gandhi.”

The TVK, on its electoral debut, had emerged as the single-largest party on May 4 in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Vijay’s party won 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, falling short of the majority mark of 118. Therefore, it required the support of smaller parties to form the government.

The Congress, which fought the elections in an alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, had won five seats. It was the first party to declare its support for the TVK on May 6.

Apart from the Congress, the Communist Party of India and the Communist Party of India (Marxist), each having two seats, had announced their support for the TVK. The Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi also confirmed its support for the Vijay-led party.

The TVK chief took oath as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu on May 10.

Written by Leah Thomas. Edited by Sneha.