DMDK's Premalatha slams CM Vijay's astrologer OSD appointment; calls for science-led governance

DMDK General Secretary Premalatha Vijayakanth became the latest political voice to weigh in on the controversy surrounding CM Vijay's appointment of astrologer Pandit Vettrivel (Radhan Pandit Vettrivel) as Officer on Special Duty, delivering a pointed critique that drew a clear line between personal faith and institutional governance.

"We respect Chief Minister Vijay's personal beliefs. But the state and its people deserve a government that makes decisions based on data, evidence, and scientific reasoning — not the position of stars," Premalatha said at a press conference in Chennai. "Personal astrologers must remain personal. Giving them official state positions sends the wrong message to our scientific community, our students, and the world."

Premalatha was careful to separate this criticism from her overall assessment of the new government. She praised CM Vijay's decision to order the closure of 717 TASMAC outlets near schools and places of worship as "a long-overdue step," and said the DMDK would extend issue-based support to policies that benefit the people — while maintaining principled opposition on matters of governance standards.

The controversy, while not threatening the government's majority, represents a broader accountability challenge for the TVK administration: squaring its rationalist, reform-oriented public image with appointments that cut against that narrative. Criticism from Premalatha — a smaller party without factional interest — carries moral weight precisely because it is not politically motivated.