Vijay concludes crucial meeting with PM Modi, postpones meeting with Rahul and Sonia

Chennai: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay has returned to Chennai following the completion of his maiden official visit to Delhi. During his trip, the Chief Minister held high-level discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. Restricting his itinerary strictly to governance and administrative matters, Vijay bypassed political huddles before departing Delhi on a special flight on Thursday evening.

In his pivotal meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Chief Minister reportedly raised several critical issues impacting Tamil Nadu. Notably, he voiced strong concerns regarding Karnataka's proposed Mekedatu dam project, pointing out that any attempt to construct a reservoir across the Cauvery River directly violates the Supreme Court verdict as well as the final orders of the Cauvery Tribunal.

The ongoing arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen, the recent 'Tamil Thai Vazhthu' anthem controversy, and State Cabinet expansion plans were also reportedly part of the dialogue.

During his audience with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, the Chief Minister submitted a comprehensive memorandum seeking targeted financial assistance for the state’s infrastructure sector. He requested priority funding for the development of ports, national highways, railway networks and industrial corridors.

Furthermore, Vijay sought central backing for the proposed metro rail systems in Erode, Coimbatore and Madurai, alongside the establishment of premier institutions of national importance within Tamil Nadu.

Intriguingly, the Chief Minister skipped his scheduled meetings with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi during the visit. Addressing the matter, Congress MP Christopher Tilak claimed that the meetings were deferred solely due to the packed schedules of the top leadership.
The Chief Minister is anticipated to travel back to the national capital on June 11, where he is expected to hold his rescheduled talks with both Sonia and Rahul Gandhi.

Meanwhile, alliance partners have firmly dismissed mounting speculation regarding a rift within the DMK-Congress coalition. Christopher Tilak reiterated that the alliance remains completely intact and robust, denying any internal friction.