In his maiden Independence Day speech as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu on Saturday (August 15, 2026), C. Joseph Vijay once again drove home the message that the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) mission is to provide a “corruption-free government” and appealed to officials and the people to make the State corruption-free.Delivering the speech after hoisting the national flag at the ramparts of Fort St. George, Mr. Vijay thanked the people for breaking away from “caste and religious considerations” and rejecting “money and muscle power.” “We are working in mission mode to achieve a corruption-free government. We want our people to develop zero tolerance for corruption. We appeal to the officials and the people of Tamil Nadu to make our State corruption-free,” he said.‘Keep standing with govt.’Mr. Vijay also appealed to the people of Tamil Nadu who supported him in the elections not to think that they had done their duty by voting for him and making him the Chief Minister. “Don’t think that your duty is done after making your elder brother, younger brother, your son the Chief Minister. You have to stand with us, with the government, so that we can implement all the welfare measures. People are the rulers; we are all servants. Let’s do our duty together and fight against forces and conspirators who are working against our government. I have no fear because you are all with me,” he said.