Who Is S Keerthana? Sivakasi MLA Who Once Worked On Strategy For BJP Ally Now In Vijay's Cabinet

Last Updated:May 10, 2026, 10:41 IST

Before joining active politics, Keerthana worked as a political consultant and was involved in campaign strategy and grassroots outreach

S Keerthana, 29, became one of the youngest ministers in Tamil Nadu and the only woman in the first cabinet of Chief Minister Vijay. Follow Tamil Nadu CM Oath Ceremony LIVE

Keerthana won the Sivakasi Assembly constituency, also known as “Fireworks Capital of India", in Virudhunagar district on a Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ticket and is among the new-generation leaders being elevated by Vijay as he prepares to lead Tamil Nadu’s first non-DMK and non-AIADMK government in nearly six decades.

Before joining active politics, Keerthana worked as a political consultant and was involved in campaign strategy and grassroots outreach. She worked as a political consultant and digital campaign strategist with Showtime Consulting, played a key role in TDP campaigns before entering active politics and winning Sivakasi for TVK.

People familiar with her political journey say she played an important behind-the-scenes role during TVK’s early stages, particularly in youth mobilisation, constituency planning and social media communication.

She gained public attention during the Assembly election campaign as one of TVK’s young and educated candidates. Political observers see her induction into the cabinet as significant, both because of her age and because she is the only woman among the nine ministers who took oath in the first phase of government formation.

Since her election victory, S Keerthana has drawn attention for speaking in Hindi, saying she chose the language to help more people understand and connect with her leader’s message. Her remarks come amid continued political opposition to Hindi in Tamil Nadu over the past several years.

Her inclusion is also being viewed as an attempt by Vijay to project generational change and improve women’s representation in governance. Analysts say TVK is trying to distinguish itself from traditional Dravidian parties by promoting younger professionals and first-time politicians to leadership roles.

The cabinet announced so far includes KA Sengottaiyan, N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, KG Arunraj, P Venkataramanan, R Nirmalkumar, Rajmohan and TK Prabhu along with Keerthana.

TVK secured 108 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and crossed the majority mark with the support of Congress and alliance partners CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML.

Following the backing from allies, Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar invited Vijay to form the government and asked him to prove his majority on the Assembly floor before May 13.

The swearing-in ceremony is being held at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in Chennai in the presence of political leaders, film personalities and party workers. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is also attending the event.

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