Vijay revokes astrologer Radhan Pandit’s appointment as OSD amid backlash
PTC Web Desk: A day after appointing celebrity astrologer Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Chief Minister’s department, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and C Joseph Vijay revoked the decision following sharp criticism from alliance partners and opposition parties.
The sudden cancellation has triggered fresh political debate in Tamil Nadu, with rivals questioning the government’s decision to bring an astrologer into an official administrative role.
Radhan Pandit, originally known as Pandit Vettrivel, is a Delhi-based astrologer who has been associated with Vedic astrology, numerology and spiritual consultation for more than four decades. Though he belongs to South India, he shifted to Delhi in 2008 and later adopted the name Radhan Pandit.
Over the years, he gained visibility in political circles and reportedly advised leaders from multiple parties, including the BJP, Congress, DMK and AIADMK. He has also publicly spoken about his admiration for veteran BJP leader Lal Krishna Advani, describing him as a major influence in his life.
Radhan Pandit came into the spotlight again after making a series of predictions about Vijay’s political rise through Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam. In a widely circulated YouTube analysis released in 2024, he claimed that Vijay’s horoscope reflected “tsunami-like strength” for political success and predicted that the actor-turned-politician would emerge as a dominant force in Tamil Nadu politics by the 2026 Assembly elections.
He had also stated that the name “Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam” perfectly matched Vijay’s birth details and numerological profile, which, according to him, would help the party grow rapidly.
Pandit further predicted that a strong political rivalry would develop between Vijay and Udhayanidhi Stalin in the coming years.
Apart from Vijay, Radhan Pandit has often claimed to have shared a close professional association with former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa. According to him, he had accurately predicted her massive electoral victory in 1991 and later warned her about a difficult political phase in the mid-1990s.
However, his brief appointment in Vijay’s administration sparked widespread criticism, with opposition leaders and alliance partners accusing the government of mixing governance with astrology. Facing mounting pressure, the Chief Minister’s office withdrew the appointment within 24 hours.
- With inputs from agencies
