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In a symbolic gesture that has gone viral, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay has removed the customary white towel from his official chair at the secretariat just 24 hours after a public appeal by young climate activist Licypriya Kangujam.

The practice of draping a white towel over high-ranking officials’ chairs is a decades-old tradition followed across many Indian government offices. Critics view it as a symbol of VIP culture and colonial-era hierarchy, while some defend it for practical reasons like absorbing sweat in humid conditions.

On May 14, photos from a review meeting showed Vijay seated on a towel-covered chair. The next day, activist Licypriya Kangujam posted on social media urging the newly sworn-in CM to set an example by ending this “towel culture” that trickles down to even junior officers.

Official photographs released on May 15 from meetings with industry leaders showed the CM’s chair without the white towel. No formal announcement was made, but the quiet change has drawn widespread praise online for signaling a break from outdated VIP norms.

Many supporters see this as Vijay’s willingness to listen to public voices early in his tenure. The move has sparked debates on social media about simplifying governance and reducing symbolic privileges in Indian bureaucracy.