Radhan Pandit Vettrivel’s stars seem to have been shining bright ever since his prediction about Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK) chief Vijay’s victory in the Tamil Nadu Assembly polls came true. Now, days after Vijay took over as Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister, the astrologer has been appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) in the Chief Minister’s Office.
Vettrivel has been the guiding force behind Vijay’s spectacular political debut, with his party winning 108 out of 234 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. From fixing the timing of his swearing-in ceremony to deciding the name and launch time of his political outfit, Vettrivel is said to have used his astrological insights to guide the actor-turned-politician.
Indian politicians, cutting across party lines, are known to have a strong belief in astrology. However, Vettrivel’s earlier prediction that Vijay would have “tsunami-like strength” in politics highlights his confidence in the actor’s rise, even at a time when rival politicians and most pollsters did not give the TVK a fighting chance to break the DMK-AIADMK duopoly.
KNOWN FACE IN POLITICAL CIRCLES
Born Vettrivel in Erode, the astrologer is a well-known figure in Tamil Nadu’s political circles. He once counted former Chief Minister and AIADMK matriarch J Jayalalithaa — a strong believer in astrology and Hindu rituals — among his prominent clients.
Vettrivel claimed to be her spiritual mentor and famously forecasted her landslide victory in 1991, leading to her becoming the youngest Tamil Nadu CM at the age of 43. Their association reportedly soured after one of his most high-stakes predictions went wrong.
Vettrivel had reportedly assured Jayalalithaa that she would avoid imprisonment in the disproportionate assets case. However, in September 2014, she was jailed following the court verdict, leading to a rupture in their relationship.
Soon after, according to sources familiar with the episode, Jayalalithaa stopped consulting him.
REINVENTION FOLLOWING 2014 EPISODE
The Jayalalithaa episode reportedly proved to be a turning point for him. Vettrivel later moved to Singapore, home to a strong Tamil diaspora, where he reinvented himself professionally.
He also began using the name “Radhan Pandit Vettrivel”, which carries a more pan-Indian resonance, as part of an effort to expand his visibility and appeal among a wider Indian diaspora clientele.
Though rooted in Erode, with an apartment in Chennai, the astrologer began spending more time in Singapore and later Delhi – the political power centre of India.
His associates claim that the transformation was driven partly by astrological considerations and partly by aspiration for wider legitimacy.
HIGH-PROFILE CLIENTELE
Apart from Vijay and Jayalalithaa, both of whom went on to become Chief Ministers, Vettrivel reportedly also provided consultation to former Deputy Prime Minister LK Advani.
The astrologer has long been a visible figure in India’s political and celebrity astrology circuit.
With nearly four decades of experience in Vedic astrology, numerology and meditation-based guidance, he is considered among the country’s most high-profile astrologers, catering to politicians, celebrities, corporate leaders and senior bureaucrats.
Apart from political consultations, Radhan Pandit is also known for offering premium astrology services, including a programme called “365 Days Predictions”, reportedly designed for CEOs and senior government officials.
With his appointment as an OSD in Vijay’s office, Vettrivel enters a previously uncharted territory where planetary guidance is likely to intersect with real world political manoeuvring.
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Published By:
Aprameya Rao
Published On:
May 12, 2026 20:29 IST
