Joseph Vijay feels like one of those visits where official meetings happened on one side,but political whispers started louder on other side . First official trip after taking office earlier this month,and already people are reading between lines.
C. Joseph Vijay,the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu,returned to Chennai after two-day visit to New Delhi . He met Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman,with talks mainly around administration,development and issues directly affecting Tamil Nadu.
But tbh,the bigger chatter started because he did not meet Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi during this visit . In politics,no meeting can also become full story sometimes ah .
Congress sources have said proposed meeting with Rahul Gandhi was only postponed,not canceled . His aides also indicated that attempts were made to schedule it,but packed agenda and return flight to Chennai got in way.
Few things standing out clearly from this visit:
- Vijay raised Mekedatu dam project and Tamil Nadu's water rights issue .
- He gave memorandum to Nirmala Sitharaman seeking priority funding for ports,national highways and railway expansions .
- Another chance to meet Congress leaders is expected around June 11 during NITI Aayog meeting.
During discussion with Prime Minister Narendra Modi,Vijay reportedly focused strongly on Mekedatu dam project proposed by Karnataka . His argument was that it violates final award of Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and goes against Supreme Court's directions on water sharing .
And he also brought up arrests of Tamil Nadu fishermen by Sri Lankan Navy . That issue has been going on for long time,and for coastal families this is not some distant diplomatic matter,it directly hits livelihood and fear at sea.
With Nirmala Sitharaman,he pushed funding requests through detailed memorandum . Ports,national highways,railway expansions… all these are tied to Tamil Nadu's growth story,and state clearly wants Centre to move faster on them .
But at same time,missed Congress meeting is what will keep people guessing . If it was just scheduling problem,then June 11 may settle it. If not,then maybe this small postponement is saying something bigger about where C. Joseph Vijay wants to stand politically…
