Tamil Nadu Higher Education Minister and Congress MLA P. Viswanathan’s statement in Madurai on Wednesday (May 27, 2026) that the present Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led government need not adhere to the previous government’s stance that the Chief Minister should be the Chancellor of universities has invited criticism from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

During his visit to Madurai, the Minister had stated that the present government – headed by the TVK, in alliance with the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and IUML – should not find it imperative to stick to the stand taken by the previous DMK government that the Chief Minister alone should be the Chancellor of State-run universities. He also said that Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay will take a decision on this.

Former Higher Education Minister and DMK deputy general secretary K. Ponmudy strongly condemned the remarks made by Mr. Viswanathan.

‘Highly condemnable’

In a statement, Mr. Ponmudy said, “Under the DMK government led by M.K. Stalin, a Bill to appoint the Chief Minister the Chancellor of universities in Tamil Nadu was passed in the Legislative Assembly with the support of all non-BJP parties, including the Congress, the VCK, the CPI, the CPI(M), the AIADMK, and the MDMK. While that Bill was forwarded to the Governor for the President’s assent, and remains pending without approval, the statement of Viswanathan — the Higher Education Minister of the newly formed TVK government and a member of the Congress party — that the Governor can continue as the University Chancellor is highly condemnable. This goes completely against the State’s rights.”

“A member of the Congress party, which initially supported the passage of this Bill, speaking against it today suggests that the Congress has compromised its ideology for the sake of enjoying power,” he further said.

Disregard of SC verdict: VCK

Joining issue with the Minister, D. Ravikumar, Member of Parliament and VCK leader, took to social media and pointed out that the statement amounted to abandoning what Tamil Nadu fought for and secured in the interest of the rights of the State. “Is the Honourable Higher Education Minister making this statement with the approval of the Chief Minister?” Mr. Ravikumar asked, tagging the Tamil Nadu Chief Minister’s official X handle.

Mr. Ravikumar also said the statement was in complete disregard of the Supreme Court’s verdict. On February 4, 2026, the apex court had set aside a Madras High Court interim order that stayed the amendments to certain laws governing State-run universities passed by the Tamil Nadu Assembly, including one that transferred the authority of appointing Vice-Chancellors from the Governor to the Chief Minister.

After the Bills were passed, the Governor sat on them for long without granting assent, prompting Tamil Nadu to approach the Supreme Court. On April 8, 2025 the Supreme Court, taking serious note of the long delay in granting assent, ordered that the Bills would be deemed to have been granted assent.

Subsequently, an advocate from Tirunelveli filed a public interest litigation (PIL) plea at the Madras High Court challenging the constitutional validity of the amendment Acts. On May 21, 2025, a vacation Bench of the Madras High Court passed an interim order staying the operation of the amendment Acts.