Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday met DMK president and former chief minister MK Stalin at his Alwarpet residence in Chennai, in what was officially described as a “courtesy call”. He also called on PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss at his residence in a high-profile political outreach days before the newly formed TVK government faces a crucial floor test in the Assembly on May 13.The meeting marked Vijay’s first interaction with Stalin after assuming office following the Assembly election victory. Stalin and his son, deputy chief minister Udhayanidhi Stalin, welcomed Vijay warmly at the residence. Udhayanidhi greeted Vijay with a handshake and a hug, while Stalin later also hugged Vijay as he escorted him inside his residence.
Sharing about the meeting, the DMK chief extended his best wishes to the new Tamil Nadu chief minister as he “extended advice” regarding Vijay’s newly assumed role. He said, “Honourable Mr. Vijay, who has assumed the office of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, met me with political courtesy and received my felicitations. I extended to him my heartfelt felicitations and advice.”During the meeting, Vijay and Stalin exchanged silk shawls and bouquets. Udhayanidhi also presented Vijay with a book chronicling the DMK’s political history titled “Kalathin Niram Karuppu Sivappu-DMK 75”.The high-profile meeting assumes political significance as it comes just a day after Vijay launched a sharp attack on the previous DMK regime over the state’s alleged Rs 10 lakh crore debt burden in an address at his swearing-in ceremony. He had also taken an indirect swipe at the DMK over “multiple power centres”, asserting that he alone would be the power centre in the TVK-led government. Stalin had responded strongly to Vijay’s remarks on the debt issue.PMK chief Ramadoss also welcomed Vijay with garland and shawl to his residence.
TVK’s Vijay meets MDMK leader Durai Vaiko
Later in the day, Vijay visited MDMK founder Vaiko at his residence, where he was received by the veteran leader’s son and MP Durai Vaiko.During the meeting, Vaiko presented Vijay with a white silk shawl and garlanded him, while the Chief Minister reciprocated by honouring the MDMK leader with a shawl. The two leaders were also seen engaging in a brief conversation as supporters and party functionaries gathered at the residence greeted Vijay.Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Vaiko praised Vijay’s post-election rise, saying he had emerged as a “big leader” and that the Assembly election results reflected the people’s desire for change in Tamil Nadu.Lauding Vijay’s outreach to opposition leaders, including former chief minister MK Stalin, Vaiko said the move reminded him of similar political gestures by “Anna” as he said, “CM Joseph Vijay meeting opposition leaders, including former CM MK Stalin, reminds one of a similar move by Anna; I have asked him to follow the path of secularism,” Vaiko said.He further added that Vijay’s meetings with leaders across party lines sent out a positive message that “healthy politics should be encouraged in Tamil Nadu.”
TVK’s floor test
The meeting comes amid intense political activity ahead of the trust vote, where Vijay will seek to prove his majority in the 234-member Assembly. TVK currently has 107 MLAs after Vijay resigned from the Tiruchirappali East seat, and enjoys the support of 13 legislators from the Congress, VCK, IUML and Left parties.Several of these parties, including the VCK, IUML and the Left, are part of the DMK-led alliance, while the Congress, which has backed TVK, was previously allied with the DMK.The interaction between Vijay and Stalin also comes after a bitter electoral contest between the DMK and TVK in the run-up to the April 23 Assembly elections, which culminated in Vijay emerging victorious.Following his meeting with Stalin, Vijay also visited MDMK founder Vaiko at his residence. Vaiko’s son and MP Durai Vaiko received the Chief Minister during the visit.
