modi & vijay
Chennai: In less than 24 hours, chief minister C Joseph Vijay did a deft balancing act, hosting Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at his residence and sharing a metro ride with Prime Minister Narendra Modi . If Vijay’s lunch with Rahul dispelled speculations of discontent among a section of Congress due to TVK leaders pitching him as PM candidate, the Modi meeting reinforced Vijay’s conciliatory approach towards the Union govt.
“If the state and Union govts work together, it will reflect in the welfare of the people,” Vijay said at the event. This is what people of Tamil Nadu want and this is what would help the state grow,” said BJP spokesperson Narayanan Tirupathy. Leaders of Congress and BJP welcomed Vijay’s approach, but said it was not a balancing act. Instead, they said, he has drawn a clear distinction between the two leaders. “Vijay met Rahul as a political leader, whereas he met PM Modi in his capacity as a CM,” said Congress leader A Gopanna. The two events cannot be compared,” he said. Vijay’s silence or muted response to key issues raised by Congress could come under scrutiny if not criticism, political observers said.
his engagement with Modi signalled Vijay’s willingness to maintain a working relationship with the Union govt While his meeting with Rahul reinforced TVK’s partnership with Congress. “He was very cordial with the PM. “TVK has an ideological bond with Congress. The challenge for Vijay, however, will be to keep both channels open in the long run without compromising the interests of TVK and its allies in TN.