Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay was forced to remove his personal astrologer Ricky Radhan Pandit Vetrivel from the post of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in Tamil Nadu’s heated political situation. He took this decision in the face of widespread criticism from his Tamilga Vetti Kazhagam (TVK) allies and opposition parties.
The appointment of Vetrivel as OSD in the Chief Minister’s office was canceled just a day after it was appointed. Parties supporting the TVK government, Biduthlai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), CPIM and CPI publicly criticized the decision.
Ahead of the confidence vote in the Assembly, VC MLA Vani Arsu urged the government to shun superstitions and focus on scientific and rational thinking. He said, our government should not give importance to astrology, but to scientific thinking.
Left parties CPIM and CPIO also reacted similarly. CPIM state secretary P Shanmugam said the responsibility of the government is to promote scientific mindset and rational thinking. He also commented that appointing an astrologer to a government post on public money would encourage superstition.
Meanwhile, Desiya Moorpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) leader Premalata Vijayakanth directly questioned Vijay over the appointment. He said that Radhan Pandit has been made OSD. On behalf of the people of Tamilnadu, I condemn this decision. If he is your guru, keep it personal. The youth voted for you. It should explain what message you are sending to future generations.
Although the VCK and the Left parties did not withdraw their support from the TVK government, their discontent created pressure in the Tamil Nadu political arena. In the end, actor-turned-politician C Joseph Vijay was forced to withdraw from his position under intense pressure.
Source: India Today
