Desk Correspondent , Chennai - A major political row has erupted following the swearing-in ceremony of C. Joseph Vijay as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, as the state’s invocation song, "Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu," was relegated to third place in the official program. In a departure from the long-standing tradition where the state anthem opens government functions, "Vande Mataram" was played first, followed by the National Anthem, "Jana Gana Mana." This breach of protocol has drawn sharp criticism from opposition leaders and allies alike, overshadowing the actor-politician’s first day in office.

The Communist Party of India (CPI) led the charge, with State Secretary M. Veerapandian demanding a public explanation for the "violation of established tradition." Veerapandian alleged that the shift occurred under directives from the Governor's office (Lok Bhavan) and criticized the prominence given to "Vande Mataram," citing its sectarian associations. He emphasized that the state anthem should always hold the foremost position to honor Tamil identity and regional pride.

In response, the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) distanced itself from the decision, clarifying that they did not agree with the altered sequence. TVK Minister Aadhav Arjuna stated that the Governor’s office cited a Union government circular as the reason for the change. However, the party assured the public that this was an "inappropriate" one-time occurrence and pledged that future state functions would restore the traditional order, with the Tamil invocation song once again opening all official events.