The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Thursday followed its long-standing tradition by starting the session with the Tamil anthem, Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, and ending with the National Anthem.
The move comes a little over a month after a political controversy over the order of songs played during Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony on May 10.
As per the state’s decades-old practice, government events in Tamil Nadu begin with Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu, which is a song praising Mother Tamil. The National Anthem is traditionally played at the end of the programme.
However, this tradition was not followed during Vijay’s swearing-in ceremony, triggering criticism from opposition parties and some allies of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
The controversy grew further because the full six-stanza version of Vande Mataram was played at the ceremony in line with a directive issued by the Union Home Ministry in January 2026.
Several parties that support the TVK government raised objections. CPI state secretary M Veerapandian said Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu*has always held the top position at official functions and sought an explanation from the government.
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalavan and PMK founder S Ramadoss also stressed that the Tamil anthem should continue to receive importance at state events.
The DMK also criticised the sequence. Party spokesperson TKS Elangovan claimed that the Governor had insisted on playing Vande Mataram first and alleged that the development indicated that Vijay was moving closer to the BJP.
As criticism mounted, TVK leader Aadhav Arjuna clarified that the party did not support the change in sequence. He described the format as unsuitable for Tamil Nadu and said the party had raised objections with Raj Bhavan after Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu was placed third in the programme.
According to Arjuna, Raj Bhavan informed the party that the Governor was following a new circular issued by the Union government.
With Thursday’s Assembly session, Tamil Nadu once again returned to its traditional practice of beginning proceedings with Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu and concluding with the National Anthem.
