Vijay meets Modi in Delhi, raises key demands of Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Wednesday (May 27), weeks after assuming office on May 10.

The much-anticipated meeting lasted about 10 minutes, far shorter than the widely expected 30–40 minutes. During the brief interaction, Vijay handed over a memorandum seeking greater financial assistance for Tamil Nadu, faster clearance for developmental projects, and support for key infrastructure needs.

Delhi-based senior political journalist Niranjan, who closely tracks Centre-state political movements, observed: “It was expected that the Vijay-Modi meeting would last 30-40 minutes, but the meeting ended in just 10 minutes. The reason is not known.”

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The brevity of today’s engagement has triggered speculation on underlying tensions between the new TVK-led government and the BJP-led Centre. For comparison, Modi's recent meeting with West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari lasted around 30 minutes, while that with Kerala's VD Satheesan lasted about 20 minutes.

Time equations

Senior journalist Tharasu Shyam remarked: “Even handing over a bouquet, draping a shawl, and submitting a petition would normally take at least 20 minutes. Seeing how quickly the meeting concluded in just 10 minutes, I feel it did not go in Vijay's favour. This was a highly anticipated engagement, but it does not appear to have been substantive. It is also unclear whether any meaningful discussion or consultation took place between the two leaders.”

Vijay’s decision to travel to Delhi 17 days after his swearing-in is also telling. The AIADMK’s Edappadi K Palaniswami met the Prime Minister just six days after taking charge in 2017, while the DMK’s MK Stalin waited 42 days following his swearing-in in 2021.

During the election campaign, Vijay repeatedly projected the BJP as an “ideological opponent,” criticising its Hindutva politics and alleged behind-the-scenes understanding with the DMK. The inclusion of several Congress leaders in Vijay’s cabinet has further complicated the equation with the saffron party at the Centre.

Federal balance

Political observers point out that this meeting is a test of how the new Chief Minister will balance Tamil Nadu’s developmental demands with ideological differences. Tamil Nadu has often raised concerns about delayed fund releases and project approvals from the Union government, issues now under fresh scrutiny.

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This was not the first interaction between the two leaders. In April 2014, during the Lok Sabha campaign, Modi, then Gujarat CM, had met Vijay, then an actor alone, in Coimbatore. Photos of that earlier meeting have resurfaced today, highlighting the dramatic shift in their political roles.

Key points of memorandum

Vijay presented a memorandum to Modi, said a Tamil Nadu Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) release. The memorandum said:

a) Vijay expressed gratitude for the retrieval of the historic Anaimangalam copper plates from the Netherlands.

b) He requested guidelines ensuring the state anthem, Tamil Thai Vazhthu, maintains its traditional place at the beginning of official government functions.

c) He urged the establishment of the Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) and an aircraft design centre in Tamil Nadu through ongoing DRDO collaboration.

d) He strongly opposed Karnataka's Mekedatu dam project, calling on the Prime Minister to halt it unless consent is granted by all basin states.

e) He raised concerns regarding the harassment and arrest of Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy, demanding immediate federal intervention for their release.

Vijay is also scheduled to meet Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, and President Droupadi Murmu during this Delhi visit.