On May 12, 2026, two days after CM Vijay's historic oath, the 15th Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly elected its Speaker — J.C.D. Prabhakar (John Christian Devavaram Prabhakar), a veteran TVK leader and former AIADMK stalwart who represents the Thousand Lights constituency in Chennai. With his election, the Assembly's constitutional framework was fully in place, with M. Ravisankar of TVK elected as Deputy Speaker on the same day.
- Speaker: J.C.D. Prabhakar — TVK · Thousand Lights
- Deputy Speaker: M. Ravisankar — TVK · Thuraiyur
- Elected: May 12, 2026 (Assembly's first sitting)
- Previous Speaker: M. Appavu (DMK, 2021–2026)
- JCD Prabhakar's earlier stint as Speaker: 2011–2016 (AIADMK era)
- Constituency: Thousand Lights, Chennai
A Speaker with Legislative Experience
JCD Prabhakar is no stranger to the Speaker's chair — he served in the role from 2011 to 2016 during the AIADMK government under J. Jayalalithaa. Now returning to the chair under TVK, he brings rare institutional experience to the role. He had served as an AIADMK MLA for Villivakkam for decades before joining TVK ahead of the 2026 election, contesting and winning from Thousand Lights.
Significance for the TVK Government
With Speaker and Deputy Speaker elected, the Assembly's constitutional structure was complete. The Speaker presides over all sessions, certifies bills, and regulates the conduct of the House. For CM Vijay's government, having a loyal TVK Speaker is significant for managing the Budget session expected in July 2026 and any legislation arising from the Vetri Tamizhagam governance roadmap — including potentially renewing Tamil Nadu's NEET exemption Bill.
