Vijay cancels astrologer’s govt post after protests from opposition and rivals

CHENNAI: Chief Minister Vijay has cancelled the government appointment order of astrologer Ricky Radhan Pandit. The action comes as the Madras High Court will hear a plea against the appointment tomorrow. Radhan Pandit was appointed as the chief minister's officer on special duty and political wing secretary. TVK's allies had come out publicly against his appointment. Political parties like Congress, CPM, CPI, and VCK criticized the appointment as being against secularism and scientific consciousness. The official order regarding the appointment was released yesterday and soon controversies arose after this.

Radhan Pandit is an astrologer who accurately predicted Vijay's political entry, the success of TVK, and Vijay's chief ministerial berth. He was a close confidant of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. He fell out with her after his prediction that Jayalalithaa would not go to jail in the 2014 disproportionate assets case failed. Radhan Pandit, who is an active spokesperson for TVK, is reported to have a decisive influence on Vijay's political decisions.