Vande Mataram Played Before Tamil Nadu State Song at Vijay's Swearing-In, Sparking Controversy
1 hour agoPolitics
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26 SourcesChennai, India
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Vande Mataram Played Before Tamil Nadu State Song at Vijay's Swearing-In, Sparking Controversy

At Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay's swearing-in ceremony at Chennai's Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, the full six-stanza version of the national song 'Vande Mataram' was played first, followed by the national anthem 'Jana Gana Mana' and then the state song 'Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu'. This sequence followed a January 2026 Union Home Ministry directive but broke with Tamil Nadu's tradition of playing the state song first. The order sparked criticism from opposition DMK and some TVK allies, including CPI, who called for restoring the traditional protocol and questioned the decision's origins. The government stated the sequence was per the Governor's instructions and affirmed that Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu will be played first in future events.

Political Bias
44%46%10%
Sentiment
46%
AI analysis of 15 sources · Published under editorial oversight by The Balanced News
Analysed 11 May 2026· How this analysis is produced· Editorial standards· Corrections

AI Analysis

Political bias across 26 sources
● Left 44%● Center 46%● Right 10%

The article group presents perspectives from multiple political actors: the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and its allies, who largely accept the Union Home Ministry directive and attribute the song sequence to the Governor's office; opposition parties like DMK and CPI, who emphasize Tamil Nadu's traditional protocols and cultural identity, criticizing the precedence given to Vande Mataram. The coverage includes official statements, party criticisms, and contextualizes the issue within broader political dynamics involving national and regional identities.

Sentiment — Neutral (46/100)

The overall tone across the articles is mixed, reflecting both celebratory aspects of Vijay's oath ceremony and the ensuing political controversy over the song sequence. While the event is described with enthusiasm and public support, the sentiment shifts to critical and contentious regarding the protocol change, highlighting objections from opposition and some allies. The coverage balances positive reporting of the ceremony with the negative reactions and calls for clarification, resulting in a nuanced sentiment landscape.

How 15 sources covered this story

Each source's own headline, political lean, and sentiment — so you can see framing differences at a glance.

SourceTheir headlineBiasSentiment
theprintRow over TN state song playing 3rd at Vijay swearing-in: TVK vows to restore it to 1st spot in futureCenterNeutral
oneindiaTVK Blames Governor Protocol In Tamil Thai Vazhthu Row, Assures Anthem Will Again Open State EventsCenterNeutral
hindustantimesTamil Nadu state song row overshadows Vijay's first day as CM, TVK responds as CPI demands answers What we knowLeftNeutral
timesnowVijay Swearing-In Sparks Row Over 'Anthem Order'; TVK Clarifies Stand Latest NewsCenterNeutral
firstpostWhat's the row over Vande Mataram at Vijay's swearing-in ceremony?CenterNeutral
indiatodayWhy Tamil Nadu anthem being played third at Vijay's swearing-in triggered uproarLeftNeutral
englishRow Erupts Over 'Vande Mataram' Before National Anthem at Vijay's Swearing-In CeremonyLeftNeutral
thetribuneTamil Thaai Vaazhthu being relegated to third place at Vijay swearing-in sparks political row - The TribuneLeftNegative
hindustantimes'Inappropriate': Row erupts as Tamil Nadu state song played third at Vijay's oath takingLeftNeutral
thehinduTradition of singing Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at beginning, National Anthem at end will continue, says Minister Aadhav ArjunaLeftNeutral
republicworldVande Mataram Before Tamil Anthem: Song Sequence At Vijay's Oath Sparks First Clash With DMK, TVK AlliesCenterNeutral
zeenewsTamil Nadu's new CM Vijay breaks 50-year tradition with 'Vande Mataram' at swearing-in ceremonyCenterNeutral
thehinduGovt. should ensure Tamizh Thai Vazhthu is sung first at official events, says headmasters' associationCenterNeutral
ndtvVande Mataram Vs Tamil Anthem: Vijay's Oath Sparks First DMK-TVK BattleLeftNeutral
theprint'Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu' relegated to third place at Vijay swearing-in sparks political rowLeftNeutral

Coverage timeline

theprint broke this story on 10 May, 02:16 pm. Other outlets followed.

  1. 1
    theprint10 May, 02:16 pm
    'Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu' relegated to third place at Vijay swearing-in sparks political row
  2. 2
    ndtv10 May, 02:46 pm
    Vande Mataram Vs Tamil Anthem: Vijay's Oath Sparks First DMK-TVK Battle
  3. 3
    thehindu10 May, 02:48 pm
    Govt. should ensure Tamizh Thai Vazhthu is sung first at official events, says headmasters' association
  4. 4
    zeenews10 May, 03:54 pm
    Tamil Nadu's new CM Vijay breaks 50-year tradition with 'Vande Mataram' at swearing-in ceremony
  5. 5
    republicworld10 May, 04:05 pm
    Vande Mataram Before Tamil Anthem: Song Sequence At Vijay's Oath Sparks First Clash With DMK, TVK Allies
  6. 6
    thehindu10 May, 05:34 pm
    Tradition of singing Tamil Thaai Vazhthu at beginning, National Anthem at end will continue, says Minister Aadhav Arjuna
  7. 7
    hindustantimes10 May, 05:36 pm
    'Inappropriate': Row erupts as Tamil Nadu state song played third at Vijay's oath taking
  8. 8
    thetribune10 May, 05:49 pm
    Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu being relegated to third place at Vijay swearing-in sparks political row - The Tribune
  9. 9
    english10 May, 05:53 pm
    Row Erupts Over 'Vande Mataram' Before National Anthem at Vijay's Swearing-In Ceremony
  10. 10
    indiatoday10 May, 06:21 pm
    Why Tamil Nadu anthem being played third at Vijay's swearing-in triggered uproar

Lens Score breakdown

32/100
Public interest0/100
Coverage gap90%

Well-covered story — coverage matches public importance.

Who's involved

Institutions and figures named across source coverage.

Government
Union CabinetUnion Home Ministry
Political
TVKBJPTamilaga Vettri KazhagamUnion Home Minister Amit ShahPrime Minister Narendra Modi

Story context

Category
Politics
Location
Chennai, India
Sources analysed
26
Last analysed
11 May 2026
Key entities
Vande MataramChief ministerTamil languageTamil NaduVijay (actor)National anthemCommunist Party of IndiaJana Gana ManaGovernment of Tamil NaduChennaiGovernorViduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi