Vijay Meets PM Modi: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Wednesday and discussed a range of issues concerning the state, marking the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief’s maiden official visit to the national capital since assuming office earlier this month.
During the meeting, Vijay submitted a memorandum to the Prime Minister outlining several long-pending demands of Tamil Nadu, including financial support for welfare and infrastructure projects, clearances for key developmental initiatives and intervention in the contentious Mekedatu water dispute.
The Chief Minister strongly opposed Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu dam project and stated that Tamil Nadu’s rights over Cauvery water must be protected as the project would adversely affect the state’s drinking water and irrigation needs. He urged the Prime Minister to ensure that no permission is granted for the Mekedatu project without Tamil Nadu’s consent.
The Tamil Nadu government also sought enhanced central assistance for ongoing development works and faster approvals for projects linked to urban infrastructure, transport and industrial expansion.
The Mekedatu issue featured prominently in the discussions. The dispute centres around Karnataka’s proposed balancing reservoir project across the Cauvery river at Mekedatu, which Tamil Nadu has consistently opposed, arguing that it could affect the state’s share of Cauvery water. The matter has remained a politically sensitive issue between the two southern states for several years. Earlier, Vijay had also written to Prime Minister Modi urging the Centre not to grant clearance to the Mekedatu project and seeking protection of Tamil Nadu’s water rights under the Cauvery tribunal framework.
Apart from meeting the Prime Minister, Vijay is likely to hold discussions with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to seek financial backing for various state projects and press for greater central allocations to Tamil Nadu.
The Chief Minister is also expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah during his visit. In addition, Vijay is likely to hold meetings with senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi as part of wider political consultations in the national capital.
Vijay, one of Tamil cinema’s biggest stars before entering politics, formally launched Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam in 2024 and quickly emerged as a major political force in the state. Riding on a strong anti-incumbency wave, welfare-centric campaigning and his popularity among youth and first-time voters, Vijay led the TVK-led alliance to victory in the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and was sworn in as Chief Minister earlier this month.
