Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay has shown his willingness to maintain relationships with both the Congress leadership and the Union government through a series of engagements within less than 24 hours. He hosted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at his residence and later travelled on the Chennai Metro with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vijay’s meeting with Rahul Gandhi highlighted the political partnership between his party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), and the Congress. His interaction with Modi, meanwhile, indicated his willingness to maintain a working relationship with the Union government on matters related to Tamil Nadu’s development.
During the Prime Minister’s visit, Vijay joined him for a Metro ride and accompanied him to a temple on the Indian Institute of Technology Madras campus. He later shared the stage with Modi at an official event marking the inauguration of a new Chennai Metro Rail stretch and the launch of other development projects.
During his address, Vijay requested the Prime Minister to approve important infrastructure projects and provide the necessary funds for Tamil Nadu. At the same time, he thanked Modi for announcing high-speed rail networks connecting Chennai with Hyderabad and Bengaluru in the Union Budget.
The Chief Minister stressed the importance of cooperation between the state and central governments. He said that working together would help improve public welfare and support the state’s development.
After the day’s events, Vijay also went to the airport to see off the Prime Minister. His interactions with both Rahul Gandhi and Modi attracted attention because of the different political relationships involved.
In the past, visits by Rahul Gandhi to Tamil Nadu often received strong public receptions from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). Meanwhile, Modi’s visits to the state had sometimes been marked by protests featuring the slogan ‘Go Back Modi’. Vijay’s cordial engagement with the Prime Minister presented a different approach to political interaction.
BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy welcomed Vijay’s approach, saying that the Chief Minister had been cordial with Modi. He added that cooperation between political leaders could help Tamil Nadu progress.
Vijay’s engagements highlighted the importance of balancing political partnerships with administrative cooperation. While TVK continues its relationship with the Congress, maintaining communication with the Union government could help the state discuss infrastructure projects, funding requirements and other development priorities.