Tamil Nadu CM Vijay Cancels Astrologer Rickey Radhan’s Appointment After Opposition, Allies Slam Move

High political drama unfolded in Tamil Nadu on Wednesday after Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay revoked the appointment of his astrologer, Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Chief Minister’s Department following intense backlash from alliance partners and opposition parties.

The controversy erupted just hours before Vijay successfully proved his majority in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly.

Astrologer’s Appointment Revoked Amid Uproar

The Tamil Nadu government issued an official order on May 13, 2026, revoking the appointment of astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as OSD to the Chief Minister.

The appointment had triggered massive criticism from political rivals as well as allies of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam government, with opposition leaders questioning the decision to appoint an astrologer to a key administrative role in the Chief Minister’s Office.

The move quickly snowballed into a major political controversy, dominating discussions across political circles and social media.

Alliance Partners, Opposition Target TVK Government

Alliance partners reportedly expressed discomfort over the appointment, while opposition parties accused the Vijay-led government of promoting superstition in governance.

Several leaders also questioned the qualifications and role of the astrologer in the Chief Minister’s Department, intensifying pressure on the newly formed government.

Amid mounting criticism, the government moved swiftly to withdraw the controversial appointment.

Vijay Wins Crucial Floor Test

The development came on the same day C Joseph Vijay comfortably won the crucial trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

Vijay secured 144 votes in favour during the floor test, crossing the majority mark with ease.

His numbers received a significant boost after 25 rebel AIADMK faction MLAs voted in support of the government despite warnings issued by AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami.

Opposition Walkout During Trust Vote

MLAs from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) staged a walkout during the floor test proceedings.

Meanwhile, four PMK MLAs and one BJP legislator abstained from voting.

Despite the political turbulence, Vijay retained a comfortable majority in the Assembly.

Court-Barred MLA Could Not Vote

The Chief Minister already had the backing of 120 MLAs before the trust vote. However, one legislator who had reportedly won by a margin of a single vote was barred from participating in the floor test following directions from the Madras High Court.

Even without that vote, Vijay’s government comfortably survived the confidence motion.

Published on: Wednesday, May 13, 2026, 01:18 PM IST