The Appointment: On May 12, an official government order confirmed: “Thiru Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel is appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Chief Minister (Political) with effect from the date of joining.” Tamil Nadu had a new CM — and his astrologer had just joined the government payroll. The backlash began within hours.
Who Is Radhan Pandit? Born as Vettrivel in Erode, he relocated to Delhi in 2008 and adopted the name Radhan Pandit, a name carrying a distinctly North Indian resonance — an apparent attempt to widen his appeal beyond Tamil Nadu. Over nearly four decades, his clientele spanned the BJP, Congress, DMK, and AIADMK.
The Jayalalithaa Years — And A Falling Out: Radhan Pandit was Jayalalithaa’s adviser around 1989–1990 and accurately predicted her 1991 electoral success, guiding her through court cases, candidate selection, and name changes. But their relationship deteriorated after he reportedly assured her she would avoid imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case — a prediction that failed dramatically.
The Tsunami Prediction: During the 2026 election campaign, dismissing exit polls, Radhan Pandit told ANI: “We are sure we are going to sweep this election by above 170 or above 140. Our Vijay will become the Chief Minister extraordinarily.” TVK won 108 seats — not 170, but enough to govern. His prophecy had partially landed.
The Muhurat That Shifted: Vijay’s oath-taking ceremony, initially scheduled for May 10 at 3:45 pm, was rescheduled to 10 am on Vettrivel’s advice to align with an auspicious muhurat. In Tamil Nadu, even the minute a chief minister is sworn in is a matter for the stars. The allies would soon decide that had gone far enough.
The Backlash From Within: Hours after the appointment, Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil wrote: “Beats me. Why would an astrologer require an OSD position?” VCK general secretary D Ravikumar said the appointment “goes against the idea of a secular government and should be reconsidered.” Even parties propping up the Vijay government were openly hostile.
The Court Challenge: A petition was filed before the Madras High Court by lawyer R Rathi seeking a writ of quo warranto against Vettrivel, arguing the appointment was “highly illegal, without the authority of law, unconstitutional” — made without applications, recruitment notification, or selection process. The judiciary was now watching.
