Tamil Nadu CM Vijay meets PM Modi in Delhi, first high-level talks since taking office
Synopsis
Just weeks after being sworn in, Tamil Nadu CM C. Joseph Vijay made his first official Delhi visit and met PM Modi — their first known interaction in 12 years. With a memorandum submitted, alliance meetings lined up, and a NITI Aayog summit ahead, Vijay is moving fast to set the terms of Tamil Nadu's relationship with the Centre.
Key Takeaways
Joseph Vijay met PM Narendra Modi at Seva Teerth, New Delhi on 28 May 2025 — their first known meeting in nearly 12 years .
Vijay submitted a memorandum to Modi outlining Tamil Nadu's development demands .
The visit is Vijay's first official trip to Delhi since being sworn in as CM on 10 May 2025 .
He is also scheduled to meet Amit Shah , Nirmala Sitharaman , Sonia Gandhi , Rahul Gandhi , and Mallikarjun Kharge during the same trip.
PM Modi is set to chair a NITI Aayog Chief Ministers' meeting on 11 June 2025 , where Vijay is expected to hold more detailed talks.
The TVK -led coalition government includes Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK , and IUML .
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay on Wednesday, 28 May 2025 met Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Prime Minister's Office, Seva Teerth, in New Delhi — a politically significant meeting that marks the first known interaction between the two leaders in nearly 12 years. The meeting came just weeks after the actor-turned-politician was sworn in as Chief Minister on 10 May 2025.
What Was Discussed
During the interaction, CM Vijay is understood to have submitted a formal memorandum to PM Modi, outlining several demands and development-related requests on behalf of Tamil Nadu. The specifics of the memorandum have not been officially disclosed, though the meeting is seen as an early signal of the new government's intent to engage constructively with the Centre.
Political Backdrop
The visit carries considerable political weight. It comes days after Vijay comfortably cleared the trust vote in the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, consolidating his position as head of the state's first coalition government in decades. His party, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), emerged as the single-largest party in the recent Assembly elections and subsequently formed the government with the support of the Indian National Congress (Congress), Communist Party of India (CPI), Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M), Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), and the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Guard of Honour and Alliance Meetings
Shortly after the Modi meeting, CM Vijay arrived at Tamil Nadu House, where he was accorded a ceremonial Guard of Honour — his first official visit to Delhi since assuming office. As part of the ongoing Delhi trip, Vijay is scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman later on Wednesday.
He is also expected to hold consultations with senior Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at 10 Janpath. Posters featuring photographs of Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, and CM Vijay were seen outside the Congress leadership's residence ahead of the meeting — underscoring the significance alliance partners are attaching to the interaction. Leaders from the Left parties and the IUML are also expected to call on Vijay at Tamil Nadu House.
NITI Aayog Meeting on the Horizon
According to sources, PM Modi is scheduled to chair a NITI Aayog meeting of Chief Ministers on 11 June 2025 in New Delhi, and CM Vijay has been invited to participate. Reports suggest more detailed discussions between the two leaders are expected at that forum next month.
The Delhi outreach signals that the newly-formed TVK-led coalition is moving quickly to establish working relationships both with the Centre and with its own alliance partners at the national level — a critical balancing act for any state government navigating coalition politics in its early weeks.
Point of View
Shah, Sitharaman, and the Congress top brass all in one visit — is less a courtesy call and more a calibrated opening move. A state CM who leads a coalition that includes Congress meeting both BJP ministers and Congress's Rahul Gandhi on the same day is threading a needle that few regional leaders attempt so openly. The real test comes at the NITI Aayog table on 11 June: whether Tamil Nadu secures meaningful fiscal concessions or returns with only optics will define how this Centre-state relationship actually functions. Tamil Nadu has historically run a friction-heavy relationship with the Centre on revenue devolution and the Cauvery issue; Vijay's honeymoon period is short, and his coalition partners will be watching closely for deliverables.
NationPress
15 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did Tamil Nadu CM Vijay visit New Delhi on 28 May 2025?
CM C. Joseph Vijay visited New Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his first official Delhi trip since taking oath on 10 May 2025. He submitted a memorandum outlining Tamil Nadu's development demands and is also scheduled to meet senior Union ministers and Congress leaders during the same visit.
What is the significance of the Vijay-Modi meeting?
The meeting is the first known interaction between the two leaders in nearly 12 years and comes weeks after Vijay was sworn in as Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister. It signals the new TVK-led coalition government's intent to establish a working relationship with the Centre early in its tenure.
Which other leaders is CM Vijay meeting during his Delhi visit?
Apart from PM Modi, Vijay is scheduled to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. He is also expected to hold consultations with Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge at 10 Janpath.
What is the NITI Aayog meeting scheduled for June 2025?
PM Modi is set to chair a NITI Aayog meeting of Chief Ministers on 11 June 2025 in New Delhi. CM Vijay has been invited to attend, and more detailed discussions between the two leaders are expected at that forum.
Which parties form the TVK-led coalition government in Tamil Nadu?
The Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by CM Vijay, emerged as the single-largest party and formed the government with the support of the Indian National Congress, CPI, CPI-M, VCK, and IUML — marking Tamil Nadu's first coalition government in decades.
