Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday held a telephonic conversation with newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and congratulated him on assuming office.

The call came shortly after Vijay officially took oath as the ninth Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, marking a major political milestone for the actor-turned-politician and his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

During the interaction, Prime Minister Modi wished Vijay success in his new role and assured continued cooperation between the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government for the welfare and development of the state.

PM Modi Extends Greetings Publicly

Before the phone conversation, PM Modi had also congratulated Vijay publicly through a post on social media platform X.

In his message, the Prime Minister said:

The message signalled the Centre’s willingness to maintain collaborative relations with the newly formed Tamil Nadu government despite political differences.

Vijay Takes Oath as Tamil Nadu’s 9th Chief Minister

Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony took place earlier in the day in Chennai after Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam emerged as the single-largest party in the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The actor-politician’s rise marks one of the biggest political shifts in the state in recent decades, ending the long-standing dominance of the two major Dravidian parties.

Along with Vijay, nine senior leaders from TVK were also sworn in as cabinet ministers.

Ministers Inducted Into the New Cabinet:

• N Anand
• Aadhav Arjuna
• KA Sengottaiyan
• K G Arunraj
• P Venkataramanan
• R Nirmalkumar
• Rajmohan
• T K Prabhu
• S Keerthana

Major Welfare Announcements After Taking Charge

Soon after assuming office, Chief Minister Vijay announced several welfare and law enforcement initiatives aimed at addressing public concerns and fulfilling key election promises.

Key Announcements Include:

• 200 units of free electricity for domestic consumers
• Formation of a Special Task Force against narcotics and drug abuse
• Establishment of a Women’s Protection Force to strengthen women’s safety and security

The free electricity scheme is expected to benefit middle-class and lower-income households across Tamil Nadu.

A Major Political Shift in Tamil Nadu

The 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections produced a dramatic political realignment.

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam secured 108 seats in the 234-member Assembly, emerging as the largest party.

Although short of a clear majority, TVK formed the government with support from:

• Indian National Congress
• Communist Party of India
• Communist Party of India (Marxist)
• Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi
• Indian Union Muslim League

Political observers believe Vijay’s entry into governance could significantly reshape Tamil Nadu politics in the coming years.

A New Chapter for Tamil Nadu Politics

Vijay’s transition from cinema superstar to Chief Minister has drawn national attention, with supporters describing it as the beginning of a new political era in Tamil Nadu.

The coming months will now test how the first-time Chief Minister balances:

• governance
• welfare delivery
• coalition management
• public expectations

A political controversy erupted on Sunday after the Congress alleged that Instagram temporarily blocked a reel and photo post shared by Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi featuring newly sworn-in Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay.

The Congress claimed the restriction was linked to rules under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), while government sources denied any involvement, attributing the issue to Instagram’s internal moderation system.

What Triggered the Controversy?

Rahul Gandhi was in Chennai on May 10 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Vijay, founder of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), who took oath as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister.

Following the ceremony, Rahul Gandhi shared photographs and a reel from the event on Instagram, featuring moments with Vijay. Shortly after, Congress leaders claimed the content became inaccessible to some users.

Congress Alleges Social Media Suppression

Congress leader Srivatsa, a close aide to Rahul Gandhi, alleged on X that Instagram had “blocked” the reel and photo post despite massive public engagement.

According to him:

• The reel reportedly crossed 12 million views within an hour
• The photo post allegedly reached 46 million users

He further claimed that the issue reflected a broader pattern of suppression targeting opposition leaders online.

“Rahul Gandhi’s social media accounts have been suppressed for a long time. His X reach, YouTube views, and Instagram followers have all been affected,” he alleged.

The Congress also questioned whether government regulations under MeitY were indirectly influencing platform moderation decisions.

IT Ministry Rejects Allegations

Sources in the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) rejected the allegations and clarified that the government had no role in restricting the content.

According to ministry sources, the temporary blocking occurred because Instagram’s automated systems mistakenly flagged the posts.

“It has been wrongly claimed that the posts were restricted by MeitY. The issue arose due to the platform’s own internal system mistakenly flagging the content, which has now been restored,” sources said.

The clarification aimed to counter accusations of political interference in social media moderation.

Questions Around Platform Moderation

The incident has once again sparked debate around:

• Transparency in social media moderation
• Algorithmic content flagging
• Political bias on digital platforms

Critics argue that large platforms like Instagram and X often provide limited clarity when high-profile posts are restricted or temporarily removed.

At the same time, technology experts note that automated moderation systems can occasionally flag content incorrectly, especially when posts experience sudden spikes in engagement.

Vijay’s Historic Swearing-In Ceremony

The controversy unfolded alongside a major political development in Tamil Nadu, where Vijay officially took oath as the state’s Chief Minister.

His rise marks one of the most dramatic shifts in Tamil Nadu politics in decades, challenging the long-standing dominance of:

• Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)
• All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK)

During the ceremony, Vijay described his government as the beginning of “a new era of real, secular and social justice.”

Key Announcements by Vijay Government

Soon after taking oath, the new Tamil Nadu government announced several major initiatives, including:

• 200 units of free electricity for eligible domestic consumers
• Formation of a women’s protection force
• Creation of an anti-narcotics task force aimed at combating drug abuse

These early announcements signal Vijay’s attempt to establish a strong welfare and law-and-order agenda from the outset.

Bigger Political Implications

The social media controversy and Vijay’s swearing-in together highlight the growing intersection of:

• Politics
• Digital influence
• Platform regulation

India achieved a major milestone in its strategic defence programme after the Defence Research and Development Organisation successfully conducted the flight trial of an advanced Agni missile equipped with MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Re-entry Vehicle) technology from Dr APJ Abdul Kalam Island.

The test was carried out on May 8, 2026, and marks another significant boost to India’s long-range missile and nuclear deterrence capability.

🛰️ What Makes This Missile Important?

The missile was tested with:

• Multiple payloads
• Different target points spread across the Indian Ocean region
• Advanced MIRV capability

MIRV technology allows a single missile to carry multiple nuclear warheads, each capable of hitting different targets independently. This dramatically improves:

• Strategic reach
• Strike flexibility
• Nuclear deterrence capability

Only a small number of countries currently possess operational MIRV-capable missile systems.

⚠️ Agni-5 or Agni-6? Here’s the Clarification

Some reports and social media discussions referred to the missile as Agni-6, but officially:

• DRDO described it as an “advanced Agni missile with MIRV capability”
• The Agni-6 programme is still awaiting formal government approval, according to DRDO Chairman Samir V Kamat.

Defence analysts believe the latest test was likely:

• An upgraded version of Agni-V
• Or a technology demonstrator for future Agni-6 development

🌍 Expected Strategic Capability

The upcoming Agni-6 programme is expected to feature:

• Estimated range: 6,000–10,000 km
• MIRV warhead capability
• Improved survivability and targeting systems

If inducted, it would significantly strengthen India’s strategic reach and long-range deterrence posture.

🇮🇳 Rajnath Singh Praises DRDO

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh congratulated DRDO and called the successful test:

The development comes amid growing global security concerns and rapid modernization of missile systems worldwide.

🎯 India Also Tests New Glide Weapon System

Separately, India also conducted the maiden trial of:

• TARA (Tactical Advanced Range Augmentation)

The system:

• Converts conventional unguided bombs into precision-guided weapons
• Was developed by Research Centre Imarat and DRDO
• Is designed as a low-cost precision strike platform

🧠 Why This Matters

The successful missile test highlights:

• India’s growing indigenous defence capability
• Advancement in strategic missile technology
• Increased focus on long-range deterrence and precision warfare

It also signals India’s continued push toward self-reliance in advanced defence systems under its indigenous military technology programmes.

🔎 Final Take

The latest Agni MIRV test represents one of the most significant developments in India’s strategic missile programme in recent years. While official details remain limited, the successful trial demonstrates India’s progress in advanced missile delivery systems and strengthens its position among nations possessing sophisticated long-range deterrence technologies.