The Tamil Nadu authorities revoked the appointment of astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Particular Responsibility to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay following criticism from opposition events and allies. The controversial appointment triggered heated debate within the State Meeting
Revealed Date – 13 Might 2026, 08:12 PM
Chennai: The Tamil Nadu authorities on Wednesday revoked its order appointing Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, an astrologer, because the Officer on Particular Responsibility (OSD – Political) to Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay.
The choice to withdraw the Authorities Order (GO) got here lower than 24 hours after the appointment was made on Tuesday, following a wave of sharp criticism from political opponents and allies of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) alike.
The appointment sparked a heated debate within the State Meeting earlier within the day. Opposition leaders, together with DMDK normal secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth, strongly condemned the transfer on the ground of the Home, questioning the induction of an astrologer right into a key political administrative function.
Going through mounting stress and backlash from numerous quarters, the Vijay-led administration moved rapidly to rescind the appointment.
Vettrivel, extensively referred to as an astrologer, had been designated to deal with political affairs within the Chief Minister’s Workplace earlier than the federal government determined to reverse the choice.
Official sources confirmed that the GO stood cancelled with speedy impact. Additional particulars on a alternative for the put up are but to be introduced.
In the meantime, responding to a question concerning the controversial appointment of an official beforehand described as an astrologer, Minister R Nirmal Kumar clarified that the person in query is a long-standing “media spokesperson” for the social gathering.
Talking to reporters exterior the meeting, Kumar mentioned, “He (Vettrivel) has been a media particular person supporting us for a very long time. A person’s private occupation might be something, however his function right here is that of a media spokesperson.”
