A bizarre and embarrassing situation unfolded in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday during the oath-taking ceremony of newly elected MLAs. S. Keerthana, the only woman minister in Chief Minister Vijay’s recently formed TVK cabinet, was unable to take her oath as an MLA because she forgot to bring her mandatory Election Commission (EC) declaration certificate. Despite being a cabinet minister, she had to leave the assembly premises without completing the formalities.
When Assembly Secretary Srinivasan requested the official declaration document to proceed with the oath, Keerthana admitted she had left it behind. Following the strict constitutional protocols that mandate the submission of the EC certificate for swearing-in, the officials denied her permission to take the oath. Reports suggest that she may be allowed to complete the ceremony later in the evening in the Speaker’s chamber, provided she produces the necessary documentation.
This incident has triggered widespread trolling and criticism on social media, with many pointing out the irony of her professional background. Before entering direct politics, Keerthana worked as a high-profile political strategist with firms like I-PAC and Showtime Consulting, managing election campaigns for parties in Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal. Critics are questioning how an experienced strategist could overlook such a fundamental requirement, calling it a glaring example of “beginner’s luck” or a lack of administrative experience within the newly formed government.
