Just within 24 hours, the tables turned for astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, who was appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay, before the government revoked the order following widespread political backlash on Wednesday.
CHENNAI: Just within 24 hours, the tables turned for astrologer Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel, who was appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay, before the government revoked the order following widespread political backlash on Wednesday.The move followed criticism from opposition parties as well as allies of the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), who questioned the appointment of an astrologer to an official government role.
An order issued by the Principal Secretary to the Government on May 13 read, “The order issued regarding the appointment of Thiru. Rickey Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special duty (OSD) to Chief Minister is hereby revoked”.Pandit, who is known both as an astrologer and as a spokesperson for the TVK, had been closely associated with the party leadership during the recent election campaign.He was appointed as Vijay’s OSD on Tuesday.Criticism from opposition and alliesThe appointment triggered criticism from several political parties, including the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM), both of which are backing the TVK government.CPI state secretary M Veerapandian demanded that the appointment be withdrawn.“This was surprising as TVK projected secularism and social justice as its core principles. Vijay is free to hold personal religious beliefs, but a constitutional govt founded on secular values should not carry religious or faith-based identifiers in official appointments. Govts are expected to promote scientific temper and rational thinking,” he said.He added that appointing an astrologer to an official political post could encourage superstitious beliefs among the public.CPM state secretary P Shanmugam also criticised the move, saying appointing such a person “as an officer at govt expense will only serve to increase faith in astrology among the people”.“This is unacceptable,” he said.DMK leaders mock appointmentEarlier in the day, DMK spokesperson TKS Elangovan mocked the appointment, saying an astrologer’s role was limited to making predictions.“Hereafter, the Parliament assembly has no role to play. Only the timing will be given by the astrologers. He is not an official. He needs somebody who can advise him properly as per the rules and as per the government powers. What can an astrologer do? He can predict, that’s all. He has more faith in him than his party,” Elangovan said.The issue was also raised in the assembly during the floor test of the new government.Manithaneya Jananayaga Katchi (MJK) president and MLA Thamimun Ansari said: “Do not include astrology formulas in the government, mainly if they believe personally its upto them, no issue, but it should not come in government.”Desiya Murpokku Dravida Kazhagam (DMDK) general secretary and MLA Premalatha Vijayakanth said: “The appointment of astrologer Radhan Pandit as OSD to the Chief Minister is condemnable.”Meanwhile, All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam Rajya Sabha MP IS Inbadurai took a swipe at the government, writing on X, “The astrologer failed to predict his own fate. Bad days have begun for the Vijay government.”TVK wins floor testThe controversy unfolded on the same day that the TVK government won the floor test in the assembly with the support of 144 MLAs.While the party and its allies had a combined strength of 120 MLAs in the House, the government also secured support from rebel AIADMK legislators.
