India: New Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay cracks down on state-run TASMAC liquor shops

Newly-elected chief minister of India's Tamil Nadu state, Josephy Vijay, has ordered the closure of over 700 state-run liquor shops, according to a press statement released on Tuesday.

It marks his first big move since he was sworn-in two days ago.

What do we know about the Tamil Nadu TASMAC shop closure?

A total of 717 liquor retail outlets, operated by the Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC), are affected.

Stores that are located within 500 meters of places of worship, educational institutions and bus stands across the southern Indian state have been directed to close in the next two weeks, the press release published on Tamil Nadu government's website said.

The statement added that the decision by Vijay's government was taken in the "public's interest."

Vijay had ordered a survey of TASMAC shops to identify outlets functioning near the specified areas soon after taking charge, the official release said.

The state currently has a total of  4,765 TASMAC retail liquor outlets, according to the statement.

During its election campaign, Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam party (TVK) had promised a "drug-free Tamil Nadu."

Vijay's first week as chief minister

State elections were held in Tamil Nadu on April 23.

The TVK founded in 2024, emerged as the single largest party in what was its debut election. However, it fell 10 seats short of a majority in the state's 234-member assembly.

Actor-turned-politician Vijay took oath as the chief minister after garnering the numbers needed to form a government, following a dayslong suspense that had both the state and the capital in New Delhi on the edge of their seats.

Vijay's ascension to the seat of power in Tamil Nadu also marks a turning point in the state's political landscape that was dominated by a duopoly of two major Dravidian parties — Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) —  for almost six decades.

The leader is now due to face a crucial vote of confidence to prove his majority on the floor of the state assembly.

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Edited by: Rana Taha