C. Joseph Vijay’s swearing-in as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu came with a notable break from political tradition. While the state is used to seeing its leaders in the customary white dhoti and shirt, Vijay arrived in a tailored black suit with a crisp white shirt — a choice that quickly became a talking point about “power dressing” in Indian politics.
For decades, leaders from Kamaraj and MGR to Karunanidhi, Jayalalithaa and Stalin stuck to traditional Dravidian attire. Vijay’s departure from it was widely read as a deliberate attempt to project a more modern image.
A considered choice
Analysts suggested the suit was no accident. It speaks to his large young following, projects an executive, business-friendly image as he talks up Tamil Nadu as an investment destination, and signals a break from the older Dravidian establishment. The absence of flashy jewellery or accessories, along with his trimmed beard and styled hair, added to a clean, confident look that carried his on-screen presence onto the political stage.
A social-media talking point
Once images of the ceremony appeared, “Vijay Style” took off on X and Instagram, with fashion watchers and commentators calling it a modern political statement. Some traditionalists questioned the move away from the veshti, but many saw it as a confident step. For a figure who understands the power of visuals, the choice was clearly part of a broader image-building effort as he begins his term.
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