India, May 10 -- Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder C. Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Sunday, marking a historic political shift in the State after decades of alternating rule by the DMK and AIADMK.

Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar administered the oath of office to Vijay during a grand ceremony held at Chennai's Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium. Nine other TVK leaders also took oath as Ministers in the new coalition government backed by Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML.

The actor-turned-politician secured support from 120 MLAs in the 234-member Assembly, enabling TVK to form the government. Vijay became only the second debutant legislator to assume office as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister since 1967 and...