Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to visit Chennai on October 10 for a programme titled “Voice of Students”, aimed at interacting with college students. Congress sources said they sought an appointment with Chief Minister Vijay, but a meeting has not been allotted so far.
The report notes that the proposed Rahul–Vijay meeting has effectively been kept off the schedule and remains unconfirmed. This comes amid earlier instances where Vijay’s party, Thaveka, did not attend an ‘INDI’ alliance consultation in Delhi on voter-list special intensive revision, even as other alliance partners such as VCK and MDMK participated.
It also points to the Madurantakam and Dharapuram by-election campaign meetings, where alliance leaders took part but Vijay did not attend, choosing to campaign separately.
Against this backdrop, Vijay is expected to participate on October 11 in Chennai at an event attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is visiting the city for multiple programmes. The development has reportedly caused shock among Tamil Nadu Congress functionaries and cadres, given Congress’ support to the Thaveka-led coalition government and its presence in the cabinet.
