Vijay's cabinet hits 35-member constitutional limit in 12 days — Tamil Nadu's second biggest cabinet ever; two seats still vacant

Article 164(1A) of the Constitution limits the size of a state cabinet to 15% of the assembly strength. In the case of the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, the maximum number of ministers allowed is 35.

This leaves 2 spots vacant for future expansion. With the VCK and IUML now joining the cabinet, these remaining vacancies may not stay open for long.

The TVK government moved from a 10-member cabinet at the time of swearing-in on May 10 to a near-full 35-member council within just 12 days, reflecting the broad coalition nature of the administration and CM Vijay's commitment to alliance inclusivity.

Political analysts note this is the second largest cabinet in Tamil Nadu's history, reflecting the complexity and breadth of the ruling coalition.