Free electricity, women’s safety and drugs crackdown among CM Joseph Vijay’s first govt orders

CM Joseph Vijay with police and IAS officers in a meeting on law and order situation

C Joseph Vijay on Sunday signed three key orders immediately after assuming office as Chief Minister, rolling out major poll promises of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on free electricity, women’s safety and anti-drug enforcement.

The first order provided 200 units of free electricity every two months for domestic consumers, whose overall bi-monthly power consumption is below 500 units. The State Government said the move would ease the burden on ordinary households amid rising living costs and inflation.

According to the Government Order, the enhanced subsidy scheme would cost the State an additional ₹1,730 crore annually. Consumers using more than 500 units bi-monthly would continue under the existing tariff structure, including the earlier 100 units of free power.

The second order signed by Vijay cleared the formation of the “Singa Penn Adiradi Padai” (Singa Penn Special Task Force), a dedicated women’s protection force to be established across Tamil Nadu with specialised personnel and modern facilities aimed at improving women’s safety and confidence.

Drug menace

The third major initiative focused on tackling the drug menace, a key poll messaging of the TVK and also the National Democratic Alliance parties. The government announced the creation of 65 Anti-Narcotic Task Forces across the State — one each in the 37 district police units and additional units in the metropolitan police districts.

The first session of the 17th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly has been convened for Monday at 9:30 am, when newly elected members will take oath or affirmation. The Assembly will reconvene on Tuesday to elect the Speaker and Deputy Speaker.

Vijay later chaired a high-level meeting at the Secretariat with senior police officials to review law and order, women’s safety and measures to curb drug-related crimes. He said regular detailed reviews would be undertaken by the government.

Meanwhile, Governor Rajendra Arlekar, on Sunday, administered the oath of office to MV Karuppaiah, a TVK functionary, as the Pro-Tem Speaker of the 17th Tamil Nadu Assembly. Karuppaiah will in turn administer the oath to newly elected members of the State Assembly on Monday.

First bureaucratic reshuffle

Soon after the swearing-in ceremony, the new government also carried out its first bureaucratic reshuffle. P Senthil Kumar, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, was appointed Additional Chief Secretary/Secretary-I to the Chief Minister. G Laxmi Priya, Secretary, Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department, was transferred and posted as Secretary-II to the Chief Minister.

Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has also resigned as an MLA from Tiruchirapalli (East) assembly constituency, deciding to retain Perambur. A bye-election will be held for Tiruchirapalli (East) constituency soon.

Published on May 10, 2026