Is Vijay playing it safe with Centre, or playing it smart?

A private, late-night meeting between Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay and Union Home Minister Amit Shah has sparked speculation in political circles. It has also raised uncomfortable questions about how strong the ties really are between the ruling TVK and its coalition partner, the Congress.

The meeting, held outside normal protocol on the eve of the 31st Southern Zonal Council meeting in Mahabalipuram on Thursday (August 20), has raised a pointed question: has Vijay softened his stand on delimitation, an issue on which the South has so far presented a united front against the Centre?

Also read: What Mahabalipuram meet said about South’s changing federal politics

Incidentally, the move comes after Congress protested Shah's visit to Chennai, while TVK was nowhere to be seen. It marks a sharp contrast from the Congress-DMK years, when the two allies routinely showed up together against any visiting BJP leader — turning "Go Back Modi" into a trending hashtag each time the Prime Minister or Home Minister set foot in the state. That shared show of strength is conspicuously absent this time round.

Has Vijay softened his stand on delimitation?

Senior journalist Priyan said that Vijay is not known to attend any event after 8 pm. Yet he went in person around 10 pm to welcome the Home Minister. “That is what has raised the doubts,” Priyan said. He added that the Chief Minister also appeared to soften his stand on constituency delimitation while speaking in Shah’s presence.

Priyan listed several issues where the TVK government has stayed silent. Tamil Nadu is still waiting for education-related funds. The Union government withheld its share of Samagra Shiksha funds, totalling Rs 2,151 crore for 2024-25. The recent mineral law changes hurt state rights. Vijay has not publicly criticised any of these. “He calls the BJP an ideological enemy, but he has not shown it strongly on the ground. His silence raises many questions,” Priyan said.

Also read: DMK MLAs not to take Vijay’s free cars; party cites TN’s heavy debt burden

Priyan further said that Congress is watching closely. "When Rahul Gandhi visited Chennai recently, Vijay did not meet him in person. Earlier, MDMK leader Vaiko invited Vijay to release a book of his parliamentary speeches in Delhi along with Rahul. Vijay stayed away, citing crowd and security reasons. Party sources say an allies’ meeting urged Vijay to take charge of the Tamil Nadu unit of the INDIA alliance. He did not agree. The alliance has not even finalised a common name yet, and it has held no further meetings. Many believe TVK is avoiding the INDIA Bloc so it does not invite the Centre’s anger," he said.

‘Vijay is doing moderate politics’

Political observer and author Kannan offered a different view. “Before an election it is like the early days of a romance. After the election it becomes real married life. Vijay is now learning real politics,” he said.

He saw no sign of any alliance or understanding with the BJP. “Welcoming the Home Minister in person was simply a way to show goodwill. One meeting does not mean a big change in position. We have to wait and watch. Vijay is doing moderate politics, the way MGR once did with the Centre. Open confrontation brings the kind of trouble Karunanidhi faced.”

Congress reaction

Congress senior leader Gopanna struck a calmer note. “A Chief Minister welcoming the Union Home Minister at an event he himself is hosting is normal. There is no need to add a political colour to it. The relationship between the state government and the Centre is one thing; party ties are another. Vijay’s ideology is clear. He has accepted Ambedkar and Periyar as his leaders. There is no confusion in the Congress-TVK alliance.”

When asked why TVK skipped the Congress protest against Shah, Gopanna simply said the party has not joined the INDIA Bloc and appears to have no interest in doing so for now.