Tamil Nadu Minister S. Keerthana Misses Oath Due to Document Error

The oath-taking ceremony for members of the 17th Legislative Assembly in Tamil Nadu on May 11, 2026, witnessed several memorable incidents, including a notable oversight by Minister S. Keerthana from the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). Originally called to take her oath, Minister Keerthana arrived without her essential election certificate. This document is mandatory for the swearing-in process.

After her name was announced in the Assembly, she approached the podium prepared to take her oath. However, when asked by the Assembly's principal secretary, K. Srinivasan, for her election certificate, Keerthana was unable to present it. Consequently, she was instructed to return to her seat without taking the oath, a situation described by officials as unfortunate. The principal secretary noted, “She may take oath whenever she submits her certificate of election.”

Later in the day, she produced the necessary documentation and successfully completed her oath. Keerthana was one of many new legislators who faced confusion regarding the documentation needed for the ceremony. While Assembly officials had reminded all newly elected members to bring their certificates, several others also failed to comply at first. Ultimately, most were able to present their certificates later in the day.

The Assembly session also included various interactions between members, such as a greeting exchange between former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and DMK Legislature Party leader Udhayanidhi Stalin. Members displayed camaraderie as they greeted one another upon entering the Assembly.

AIADMK MLA K. Mohan from Panruti had an emotional moment during the ceremony, breaking down as he faced the portrait of late Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, exclaiming “Amma, Amma.” This poignant scene added a further layer of sentiment to the proceedings.

Another procedural difficulty arose when several MLAs mistakenly read the entire oath text. The Assembly Secretary had to remind members to choose between two formats of affirmation: swearing in the name of God or affirming by conscience. This led to some confusion as members inadvertently repeated the same error, prompting additional guidance from the Secretary.

The events of the day reflect both individual challenges and collective camaraderie among the newly elected officials in the assembly, illustrating the dynamic nature of Tamil Nadu's political theatre.