Chennai: In one of the earliest key administrative moves after taking charge as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, Vijay, widely recognised as Vijay, has designated two senior IAS officers as his official secretaries in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

The Tamil Nadu administration has assigned Dr P Senthil Kumar, a 1995-batch IAS officer, as Additional Chief Secretary–Secretary I to the Chief Minister, and G Lakshmi Priya, a 2006-batch IAS officer, as Secretary II to the Chief Minister.

The appointments were declared through a state government notification released soon after the new administration assumed office.

Dr P Senthil Kumar Named Addl Chief Secretary to the CM

As per the official notification, Dr P Senthil Kumar, who had been serving as Additional Chief Secretary to the Government in the Health and Family Welfare Department, has been reassigned and appointed as Additional Chief Secretary–Secretary I to the Chief Minister.

An experienced administrator, Dr Senthil Kumar belongs to the 1995 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS), Tamil Nadu cadre. Born on July 15, 1968, he possesses a B.Sc. degree and a Ph.D.

During his distinguished service, he has handled a broad range of assignments, including Assistant Collector, District Collector, Deputy Secretary, Special Secretary, Commissioner, Director, Joint Chief Electoral Officer, Principal Secretary to Government, and Principal Secretary to the Governor.

He has additionally worked as Principal Secretary in the Environment, Climate Change and Forests Department and is recognised for his wide administrative expertise across several sectors.

G Lakshmi Priya Assigned as Secretary to Chief Minister

The government has likewise appointed G Lakshmi Priya as Secretary II to the Chief Minister. Before this assignment, she was serving as Secretary of the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare Department.

Lakshmi Priya is a 2006-batch IAS officer of the Tamil Nadu cadre. Born on December 10, 1978, she holds a Bachelor of Engineering degree from Madurai Kamaraj University and an M.A.

Across her career, she has served as Commissioner, District Collector, Joint Commissioner, Collector and District Magistrate, Joint Secretary, Project Director, and Sub Collector. She is broadly considered an experienced and capable administrator.

Vijay Establishes Government with Backing of Alliance Partners

Although Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) did not obtain a majority independently in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, Chief Minister Vijay successfully secured support from the Indian National Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Communist Party of India, Communist Party of India (Marxist), and Indian Union Muslim League.

Collectively, the alliance secured the support of 120 MLAs, comfortably surpassing the 118-seat majority threshold required to establish the government in the 234-member Assembly.

CM Vijay Introduces Three Welfare Initiatives

Soon after assuming office, Chief Minister Vijay unveiled three public welfare programmes focused on:

Electricity-related assistance

Women’s protection

Drug elimination across Tamil Nadu

The initiatives reflect the new administration’s focus on public welfare and social progress.

Importance of the Appointments

The appointment of Dr P Senthil Kumar and G Lakshmi Priya is viewed as a calculated step to reinforce the Chief Minister’s Office with experienced officers capable of coordinating governance, executing policy decisions, and maintaining administrative effectiveness.

With one senior Additional Chief Secretary and one experienced Secretary overseeing the Chief Minister’s Secretariat, the Vijay-led administration is expected to build a strong administrative support framework from the very beginning.