Jagadish Palanisamy Appointed Private Secretary to Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay

The Tamil Nadu state government has appointed Jagadish Palanisamy, a film producer and long-time associate of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay, as the Private Secretary to the Chief Minister in Chennai. The appointment was officially made on May 12, 2026, just two days after Chief Minister Vijay assumed office, but the details emerged publicly on June 22, 2026.

The Government Order (G.O.) detailing the appointment was made public by Palanisamy himself in a social media post. He shared the document on the platform X while wishing Chief Minister Vijay on his birthday. Following his post, the G.O. was widely circulated across various social media platforms.

Palanisamy has shared a close professional relationship with Chief Minister Vijay for more than ten years. Before transitioning into this key administrative role, Palanisamy managed a talent management company and worked as a film producer, closely associating with Vijay during his career in the film industry.

In his social media post, Palanisamy reflected on his journey with the Chief Minister. He wrote that 18 years ago, he stood in line as a die-hard fan hoping for a photograph with Vijay, and expressed gratitude for now standing beside him as the Private Secretary to the Chief Minister.

The same Government Order from May 12, 2026, also named Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, an astrologer, as the Officer on Special Duty (Political) to the Chief Minister. However, Vettrivel’s appointment sparked immediate controversy.

Following severe criticism from the public and political allies, including partners of Vijay's party, the TVK, the state government revoked Vettrivel’s appointment the very next day, on May 13, 2026.

The swift revocation highlighted the political sensitivities surrounding the new administration's early appointments, even as Palanisamy officially assumed his administrative duties.