Chennai, May 21 -- Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay expanded his cabinet and allocated portfolios on Thursday. The swearing-in ceremony of the cabinet ministers was followed by strong criticism from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) leaders as the national song 'Vande Mataram' was played ahead of the state song 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu'.

The opposition had earlier also raised the issue when the national song was accorded priority during Vijay's swearing-in as the Chief Minister.

DMK MP Kanimozhi called it an act of disrespecting the state song and questioned the TVK over "silence" on the incident.

"For the second time, the act of singing a third song in a manner that disrespects the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at the swearing-in ceremony of the TVK...