Malaysia, May 11 — As Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay officially assumed office on Sunday, one of the most talked-about appointments in his newly formed cabinet was that of 29-year-old S. Keerthana, who has emerged as the youngest and only woman minister in the nine-member cabinet.
Keerthana was sworn in alongside eight other ministers during the oath-taking ceremony held at Jawaharlal Nehru Indoor Stadium, marking a significant moment in the state’s political transition under the new Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government.
Representing Sivakasi, widely known as India’s fireworks capital, Keerthana made electoral history by becoming the first woman MLA ever elected from the constituency, ending nearly 70 years of uninterrupted male representation.
In the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, she secured victory by defeating Congress candidate Ashokan G with a margin of 11,670 votes.
Keerthana has also drawn national attention for her fluency in multiple languages, particularly Hindi, a notable point in Tamil Nadu’s politically sensitive language landscape. Her Hindi speeches during the campaign gained traction online, with Keerthana explaining that she chose to address audiences in Hindi to help people across India better understand and connect with TVK’s political vision.
Coming from a middle-class background, Keerthana studied in a Tamil-medium government school before earning a B.Sc. in Mathematics and an M.Sc. in Statistics from Pondicherry University.
Before entering electoral politics, she worked as a political consultant and campaign strategist with organisations including Indian Political Action Committee (IPAC) and Showtime Consulting.
Supporters have highlighted her academic credentials and ability to speak five languages, including Tamil, English, Hindi and Telugu, as qualities that reflect a new generation of political leadership.
Speaking after her appointment, Keerthana said TVK has created opportunities for individuals without political lineage or financial influence, provided they are committed to public service.
Her elevation is widely seen as part of Chief Minister Vijay’s effort to project a cabinet focused on youth representation, transparency, women’s safety and social justice as his government begins its first term in office.
