Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay (Image credit: TOI Chennai)

New Delhi: Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C Joseph Vijay on Sunday took charge as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu and delivered his maiden address, calling his government “a new beginning” and promising secular and social justice governance after coming to power in the assembly elections.“This is a new beginning. A new era of genuine, secular, social justice begins now,” Vijay said after taking the oath at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium. Along with Vijay, nine other ministers also took oath in the cabinet. He insisted that there would be no center of power in the government apart from him.Thanking people for supporting his political journey, Vijay said, “You all told me to come into politics, ‘We are with you’ and today you made me the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Whatever pain and obstacle I faced, you considered it yours and stood by me throughout this journey. I am not a messenger of God. I am just a normal person. But when people stand with me, I believe that together we can achieve anything and overcome every challenge, no matter what comes.“Read this also From KA Sengottaiyan to S Keerthan – what Vijay’s Tamil Nadu cabinet looks likePresenting himself as a man raised from the common people, he said, “I have not come from the family of any prince. I have come from among you like a member of your family, like your brother. You embraced me with love and gave me a great place in cinema.”Speaking at length about the financial stress his government has inherited, Vijay said, “When crores of people stand with me, I have confidence and belief in my heart that together we can face anything, no matter what comes our way. Today, I have seen firsthand the situation our Tamil Nadu government is in. The previous government left after taking a debt of over Rs 10 lakh crore. Before he left office the treasury was completely empty. In such a situation we have taken command.”The actor turned politician announced immediate action against drug abuse.“From today, I will start taking strict measures to control drug abuse. It is our duty to protect our youth from it. Similarly, I will ensure law and order and guarantee safety for all. Even if some people insult me, whether they are friends or enemies, all 8 crore people are still my people.” My heart tells me that I should pay full attention to education, roads, drinking water facilities and other essential services. As I said earlier, I will not touch even a single penny of public money.”Read this also PM Modi congratulated Vijay on taking oath as Chief Minister“After reviewing everything, I intend to release a white paper for the people. I want my government to be a transparent government. This is the first thing I want to do. As far as Tamil Nadu is concerned, if I have to meet anyone, I will not do it secretly or behind closed doors. Whatever I do, I will do it openly and transparently. I request you all to give me some time. Whatever promises I have made, I will gradually fulfill them and will try to implement them honestly. This is your government. I will ensure strict security for women,” Vijay said.Reiterating his stand against corruption, the TVK chief said, “I promise the people of Tamil Nadu that I will not misuse even a single rupee of public money. I have not entered politics for wealth and you all know this very well. I will never allow corruption or allow anyone to earn money through corrupt practices. This government will be of the people and together we will build a stronger and better Tamil Nadu.“Soon after taking oath, Vijay signed his first set of official documents, which included orders for 200 units of free electricity supply, formation of a special task force to combat drugs and another special task force to ensure the safety of women.During his address, Vijay also thanked leaders of the allies including Mallikarjun Kharge, Selvaperunthagai, Praveen Chakraborty, P Shanmugam, Su Venkatesan, Thol Thirumavalavan, Ravikumar, Vanniyarasu and M Veerapandian. He also described Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi as his brother.TVK’s victory marked the beginning of a new chapter in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu, ending decades of dominance by the DMK and AIADMK.