Chennai: Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay called on Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi in New Delhi on Wednesday, reinforcing his ties with the Congress party. Vijay, who arrived in Delhi for a three-day visit, also called on President Droupadi Murmu and Vice President C P Radhakrishnan. He further met CPI national general secretary D Raja.
Second Visit to Delhi as Chief Minister
This marks Vijay's second visit to Delhi after assuming office as chief minister. During his first visit, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. While the meetings with the President and Vice President were courtesy calls that could not take place during his earlier trip, his interactions with Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi at their residence and D Raja at CPI’s headquarters carried significant political weight.
Political Significance of the Meetings
TVK sources stated that Vijay thanked Sonia Gandhi for the support extended by Congress during the formation of the TVK government in Tamil Nadu. He also expressed gratitude to D Raja for the CPI’s support to the TVK government. These meetings come amid growing efforts by a section of the Congress leadership to draw TVK closer to the INDIA bloc. Congress had faced criticism from some of its allies during the recent INDIA bloc meeting for leaving the DMK and aligning with TVK after the Tamil Nadu elections.
Upcoming Niti Aayog Meeting
Vijay is set to attend the Niti Aayog governing council meeting on Thursday, where he is expected to present a statement on his government’s priorities, the economic development of the state, and welfare programmes that require the Union government’s support.
