Vellore - “A major development in Tamil Nadu is having a Catholic Prime Minister. The renowned Indian actor C. Joseph Vijay, leader of the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party, was sworn into office on May 10. His election marks a significant change in the regional political landscape, ending almost 60 years of domination by the two Dravidian parties,” Bishop Ambrose Pitchaimuthu of Vellore, Tamil Nadu, and National Director of the Pontifical Mission Societies in India, told Fides. The Dravidian parties to which the bishop refers are regional Indian political formations, rooted almost exclusively in the state of Tamil Nadu, a major southern Indian state. Their ideological origins lie in the Dravidian Movement, a current of social reform and linguistic-cultural pride that emerged in the region at the beginning of the 20th century.Bishop Pitchaimuthu notes: “The new Prime Minister has managed to break a long-standing duopoly. He is Catholic, but he was elected with the votes of all. His new party enjoyed popular support. The people of Tamil Nadu strongly desired change after 60 years of alternating two parties that had always governed. The citizens wanted a change, denouncing corruption and nepotism.” The two historically rooted regional parties in the state are the DMK , a secular, progressive, and regionalist party, and the AIADMK , also regionalist and associated with welfare policies and charismatic leaders.“Catholics in Tamil Nadu make up about 12% of the population, and the Christian presence reaches 30%, out of the state’s approximately 77 million inhabitants. But the religious factor did not influence the vote, although some Hindu groups tried to discredit C. Joseph Vijay because of his religion,” the bishop stated.Regarding his rapid rise, Bishop Pitchaimuthu observed: “He was an actor, and that gave him great popularity. I remember that in the past, in fiction, he played a politician; now he is a real, professional politician.” And it's curious that on social media there's an overlap between real and reel ."The new party," he continues, "presented itself with high-impact challenges and promises. During the election campaign, it announced free electricity, a salary for women, a monthly subsidy for young people to combat unemployment, and unsecured student loans of up to 2 million rupees: measures with a significant social and emotional impact. This is now the challenge it must face. In my opinion, it must honestly tell the population which measures, considering the state budget, will actually be feasible."According to observers, implementing all these campaign promises would place a heavy burden on state finances. Vijay's government has inherited a significant public debt from the previous administration, and its main challenge will be to secure the necessary funds without imposing new taxes.The Bishop of Vellore concludes: "The people of the state have high expectations for the new government." In the state executive branch, a coalition government, there is broad Christian representation: in addition to the Catholic Prime Minister, for the first time in history, the Finance Minister is also Catholic, and the Speaker of Parliament is Christian. We, as bishops, will meet with him and express our willingness to collaborate for growth, development, and the promotion of social harmony, the foundation of prosperity.”Just after taking office, Vijay approved significant measures for the partial provision of free electricity, the creation of a special “protection force” for women, and anti-drug teams in every district of the state. In his inaugural address, the Prime Minister asked the population to give him time to fulfill his campaign promises.
