No meeting with Rahul, but posters outside 10 Janpath hail Vijay as ‘Thalaiva’; and the optics say it all


The expected meeting between Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in Delhi did not take place on Thursday.

The development drew attention because posters outside 10 Janpath appeared just hours before the anticipated interaction between the two leaders. Featuring Rahul Gandhi alongside Vijay, the posters carried the message: “Congress back in Tamil Nadu after 59 years. Thank you, Thalaiva.” Though no official meeting between Congress leaders and Vijay had been announced, the visuals triggered intense political chatter in the national capital.

Vijay is scheduled to return to Chennai on Thursday morning and is expected to reach the Tamil Nadu capital around 12:15 pm.

The visit was Vijay’s first official trip to Delhi after taking office earlier this month. During the visit, he met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister’s Office on Wednesday and discussed a range of issues concerning Tamil Nadu, according to an official release.

Vijay raises Tamil Nadu concerns during PM Modi meeting

During the meeting, Prime Minister Modi thanked Vijay for the efforts taken during his visit to the Netherlands to retrieve the historic Anaimangalam copper plates and bring them back to India.

The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister also raised concerns regarding the singing order of the Tamil Thai Vazhthu at government functions in the state. According to the release, Vijay said the state invocation song has traditionally been sung at the beginning of official events in Tamil Nadu.

He pointed out that after a circular issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs earlier this year, the National Song had started being sung first at certain government functions. Vijay requested the Centre to issue a clarification allowing the Tamil Thai Vazhthu to continue at the start of state events.

Mekedatu dam issue, defence projects also discussed

The Chief Minister also urged the Centre to establish the Centre for Airborne Systems in Tamil Nadu. He said discussions had already been taking place with the Defence Research and Development Organisation over setting up the Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft Design and Development Centre and the Centre for Airborne Systems in the state.

On the proposed Mekedatu dam project across the Cauvery river, Vijay said Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister’s announcement regarding Bhoomi Pooja for the project went against the final award of the Cauvery Water Disputes Tribunal and the Supreme Court judgment, the release added.

The details of Vijay’s meeting with the Prime Minister were shared in an official statement.