CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian. File
| Photo Credit: PTI
CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian, on Sunday (May 10, 2026), said the Tamil Nadu government should explain to the people who was responsible for relegating the Tamil invocation (Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu) to the third position during the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay earlier in the day.
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In a statement, Mr. Veerapandian said it was against the established convention to allow the rendering of Vande Mataram during the swearing-in ceremony held at Lok Bhavan.
“Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam should ensure that the Tamil invocation is accorded priority and should not allow a repetition of what happened during the swearing-in ceremony,” he said.
The dignitaries on the dais stand as Vande Mataram song is played during the ceremony held for the swearing-in of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay at Nehru Indoor Stadium in Chennai on May 10, 2026
| Photo Credit:
B. Jothi Ramalingam
Mr. Veerapandian said the Tamil invocation should be rendered first when newly-elected MLAs take oath, followed by the national anthem.
“This practice should be followed in all government functions,” he said, adding that Vande Mataram, being a song dedicated to a deity, could not be treated as the national anthem.
Published – May 10, 2026 03:16 pm IST
