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The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK)-led government is set to move a resolution in the Assembly on Monday, August 10, seeking to make the rendition of Tamil Thaai Vaazthu the first item at functions organised by government offices, educational institutions, universities and public sector undertakings in Tamil Nadu.
Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is expected to move the resolution, which is likely to receive support from all political parties in the Assembly.
The move comes weeks after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), in a letter dated July 9, directed states and Union territories to strictly comply with its January 28 directive that Vande Mataram, the national song, be played before the national anthem at official events.
The TVK government's move follows a controversy over the order of rendition at a convocation held at Manonmaniam Sundaranar University, named after the author of Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu.
At the event, Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu was moved to the third position, after Vande Mataram and the national anthem, in line with the MHA directive.
The decision drew criticism from political parties across Tamil Nadu, with parties objecting to the state song being placed after the national song and national anthem. The TVK government had also assured that such an incident would not be repeated.
With the resolution, the Tamil Nadu government is set to reaffirm the state's existing orders on the rendition of Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu.
The song, taken from the prologue of Manonmaniam, written by Manonmaniam Sundaranar in 1891, has been sung at official functions in Tamil Nadu since November 23, 1970, following a government order.
Tamil Thaai Vaazthu was accorded official status as the state song on December 12, 2021. An order issued subsequently said that it should be rendered before the commencement of functions organised by educational institutions, universities and public sector undertakings in the state.