On Sunday, nine Ministers were sworn in alongside C. Joseph Vijay, the leader of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, as the new Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. Among them was Keerthana, who won from the Sivakasi assembly constituency, the first woman Legislative Assembly member from there. While social media went on an overdrive erroneously claiming she was the first woman Cabinet member, the truth is far from that.

Women have been serving as Ministers in the Tamil Nadu Cabinet for a long time. Even before India gained independence, a woman Minister was included in the Cabinet formed in the then Madras Presidency. In the first election held for the Madras Presidency under the Government of India Act of 1935, the Congress party won and formed a government led by C. Rajagopalachari. No women were included in this Cabinet. This cCabinet resigned on October 30, 1939. Following this, Governor’s rule continued until April 30, 1946.

After the end of the Second World War, elections were held again, and a new Cabinet was sworn in on April 30, 1946, led by T. Prakasam. Rukmini Laxmipathi, a freedom fighter, was included in this Cabinet. That was the first time a woman was included in a Cabinet in Madras Presidency. She was assigned the portfolios of Public Health and Medicine. However, the Cabinet led by T. Prakasam lasted for only one year. This Cabinet stepped down on March 23, 1947.

After India became a Republic, no women were included in the Cabinet formed under C. Rajagopalachari on April 10, 1952, following the first general elections. However, when the Cabinet was reshuffled on October 9, 1953, Jothi Venkatachalam was inducted along with M. Bhaktavatsalam and K. Rajaram. Ms. Jothi Venkatachalam served as a Minister until April 1954. Following this, when a new Cabinet was formed under K. Kamaraj, no women were included.

In the subsequent general elections, the Congress party won again, and a Cabinet was formed under K. Kamaraj on April 13, 1957. Lourdammal Simon was included as a Minister in that Cabinet. Having won the election from the Colachel constituency in Kanyakumari district, she was assigned the Local Administration portfolio. The Hindu dated April 13, 1957, recorded: “Mr. K. Kamaraj on April 12 called on the Madras Governor, Mr. A.J. John, at the Raj Bhavan, and submitted the following list of eight names of the members of his new Cabinet: Mr. K. Kamaraj, Mr. M. Bhaktavatsalam, Mr. C. Subramaniam, Mr. K.A. Manickavelu, Mr. R. Venkataraman, Mr. P. Kakkan, Mr. V. Ramiah and Smt. Lourdammal Simon. Seven of the new Ministers will be sworn in at 12 noon on April 13 and the other, Mr. Venkataraman, will take oath of office later.”

In 1967, when the DMK formed the government for the first time, Satyavani Muthu was included as the Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare in the Cabinet led by C.N. Annadurai. Following his demise, Satyavani Muthu also served in both Cabinets formed under M. Karunanidhi.

In all the Cabinets formed after this, at least one woman has been included as a Minister. After the passing of M.G.R., when his wife Janaki Ramachandran served as Chief Minister for a short period; she was the only woman in that Cabinet. Subsequently, in the 1991 general elections, R. Indirakumari was included as a minister in the Cabinet formed by Jayalalithaa after her victory. Since then, women have continuously been part of Tamil Nadu’s Cabinets.