In a 1st, TN CM Vijay ditches his chair, sits with ministers in assembly

In a groundbreaking move, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay defied tradition on Thursday by abandoning his designated chair and taking a seat alongside ministers in the front row of the state assembly. This unprecedented action, reported by PTI, marked a significant departure from the long-established convention, according to a source cited by the news agency.

Typically, the chief minister occupies a separate chair near the Speaker, while ministers are seated separately in the front row, with opposition leaders seated across the treasury benches. However, Vijay chose to sit between ministers K A Sengottaiyan and Aadhav Arjuna, opting for a spot traditionally reserved for his peers. This bold decision drew attention as chief ministers are usually expected to maintain their official seating area.

Nevertheless, Vijay's move was noteworthy for its departure from the customary seating arrangement, as he remained seated with the ministers despite not occupying the designated chair for them. The 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly follows a conventional seating protocol where ministers are seated in the front row, while the opposition sits across from the treasury benches.