Tamil Nadu Assembly Passes Historic Rule Change; State Anthem to Precede National Anthem at All Sessions

Chennai: The first session of the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly this year commenced today, with the sitting opening to the state anthem Tamil Thai Vazhthu followed by the national anthem — marking a historic departure from previous practice. Vande Mataram was not sung in the assembly.

Speaker M Appavu tabled a rule amendment resolution formalising the new order of proceedings: henceforth, all assembly sessions will begin with Tamil Thai Vazhthu and conclude with the national anthem — reversing the earlier convention of opening with the national anthem and closing with the state anthem. The Speaker made clear that this order must be strictly observed at all official functions of the House.

The rule change comes in the backdrop of the controversy surrounding actor and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) leader Vijay's swearing-in as a member of the assembly, during which allegations arose that he had declined to sing Tamil Thai Vazhthu. It is the first assembly session since C Joseph Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister. The Speaker's intervention is widely seen as an assertion of the assembly's sovereignty and the primacy of Tamil cultural identity in the legislature's official proceedings.

While Tamil Thai Vazhthu is already mandatory at all government functions under the Tamil Official Language Act, the assembly had maintained its own separate rules. The amendment now brings the legislature in line with that broader practice, formally enshrining the state anthem's precedence within the House as well.