Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has appointed astrologer and TVK spokesperson Radhan Pandit Vettrivel as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Chief Minister, a move that has sparked criticism from allies and opposition leaders.

Radhan Pandit, who had publicly predicted a major electoral victory for Vijay and the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, has been considered a close aide of the Chief Minister during the party’s election campaign.

The appointment drew sharp reactions from leaders within the Congress and Left parties. Congress MP Sasikanth Senthil questioned the decision in a post on X, asking why an astrologer required an OSD position in government.

Leaders from the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) and CPI(M) also criticised the move, arguing that such appointments go against the principles of scientific temper and secular governance.

According to reports, Radhan Pandit was among the first people to visit Vijay’s residence after TVK’s strong performance in the assembly elections. He has also been associated with the party as a spokesperson and political commentator.

The controversy comes amid rapid political developments in Tamil Nadu following the formation of the new TVK-led government.

India has sufficient fuel reserves and there is no supply shortage despite the ongoing conflict in West Asia, Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister Hardeep Singh Puri said on Tuesday.

Addressing the CII Annual Business Summit, the minister said the country currently has crude oil and LNG reserves that can last for 69 days, while LPG stocks are sufficient for 45 days.

Puri also said LPG production has been increased from around 35,000-36,000 tonnes per day to nearly 54,000 tonnes per day to ensure uninterrupted supply during the ongoing geopolitical tensions in West Asia.

The minister dismissed fears of any immediate restrictions or disruption in fuel availability and said there is “no supply issue” in the country.

His remarks came after Prime Minister Narendra Modi urged citizens to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption and avoid non-essential foreign travel to help conserve foreign exchange reserves amid rising global energy prices linked to the West Asia conflict.

The government has also said there are no plans for fuel rationing and that India’s energy supply position remains stable.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s appeal to reduce non-essential overseas travel has received support from the tourism industry body Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism and Hospitality (FAITH), which said attracting more foreign tourists to India is equally important for the economy.

FAITH Secretary General Rajiv Mehra endorsed the Prime Minister’s suggestion that Indians should reconsider leisure trips abroad and destination weddings overseas for the time being. He said inbound tourism can play a major role in helping India earn foreign exchange.

The remarks came a day after Narendra Modi urged citizens to prioritise domestic tourism amid concerns over foreign exchange outflow and rising global economic uncertainty.

According to government tourism data cited in recent reports, more than 3.27 crore Indians travelled abroad in 2025, with leisure travel accounting for a significant share of these trips. At the same time, growth in tourism-related foreign exchange earnings reportedly slowed during the year.

FAITH said India should focus not only on reducing unnecessary overseas expenditure but also on improving infrastructure, connectivity and tourist experiences to attract more international visitors.

The Prime Minister’s remarks came against the backdrop of global tensions and pressure on India’s foreign exchange reserves due to higher crude oil prices and economic uncertainties.