Chennai, May 10 -- Political parties including Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Left parties criticised the rendering of the national song 'Vande Mataram' during the swearing-in ceremony of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay by governor Rajendra Arlekar on Sunday.

Ahead of the governor administering the oath of office to Vijay, a group of women sang the song 'Vande Mataram'. National anthem was played after and was followed by the traditional 'Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu'.

DMK leader and former Union minister A Raja slammed the Centre and said, "As someone who has observed the conduct of the Union BJP [Bharatiya Janata Party] government for the last 11 years, I realise the dream of the 'Vande Mataram' song mentioned by ...