Chennai: Tamil Nadu chief minister K Palaniswami on Thursday (August 15) announced to trifurcate the large Vellore district into three and asserted his government's commitment to the two-language formula.

In his Independence Day speech after unfurling the tricolour at the Fort St George in Chennai, Palaniswami said that dividing Vellore district was following consideration of representations from ministers, MLAs and the general public.

Two new districts with Ranipet and Tirupattur as headquarters respectively will be carved out from Vellore, and KV Kuppam in Vellore district will be upgraded into a new taluk, he said.

Vellore will continue to function as a separate district. Palaniswami had recently announced new districts of Chengelpet and Tenkasi, and with the two new districts, Tamil Nadu is set to have a total of 37 districts.

Quoting former chief minister J Jayalalithaa, he expressed the AIADMK government's commitment to the two-language formula of Tamil and English.

This is the third time Palaniswami is hoisting the national flag as Tamil Nadu chief minister.