Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s October 10 meeting with Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay reportedly ended on an uncomfortable note, with Vijay declining to commit to three requests concerning the Congress-led protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and the demand for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, according to a report by Junior Vikatan.
Rahul, who was in Chennai for a day to participate in the ‘Students’ Voice’ interaction programme, met Vijay at the Chief Minister’s residence in Neelankarai. The meeting reportedly lasted close to an hour and covered Tamil Nadu’s political situation, the Congress’s campaign against SIR and the opposition INDIA alliance’s planned mobilisation in Delhi.
According to Junior Vikatan, Rahul made three requests to Vijay: to publicly support the Congress’s anti-SIR agitation, issue a statement demanding Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, and send party representatives to the INDIA alliance’s rally in Delhi. Rahul also reportedly urged Vijay to personally travel to Delhi and express support for INDIA alliance MPs.
Rahul Seeks Vijay’s Support For Congress’s Anti-SIR Campaign
The report quoted senior Congress leaders as saying that Vijay had initially not agreed to a meeting with Rahul. According to them, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore intervened, arguing that Rahul’s departure without meeting the Chief Minister could create unnecessary tensions within the alliance.
The report also stated that Praveen Chakravarty, who had been expected to accompany Rahul, missed the convoy vehicle while leaving the airport and was therefore absent from the meeting.
Rahul reportedly congratulated Vijay on the by-election victory before discussing the political situation in Tamil Nadu. The conversation then turned to the Congress’s protests in Delhi against SIR and its demand for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.
According to Junior Vikatan, Rahul told Vijay that the anti-SIR campaign had generated a level of political mobilisation that earlier protests against the BJP had not achieved. He reportedly argued that the BJP was facing a challenge after 12 years and asked Vijay to support the campaign.
Rahul also reportedly said that merely stating opposition to SIR was insufficient and urged Vijay to join the INDIA alliance’s mobilisation in Delhi.
However, Vijay did not immediately agree to any of the three requests, according to the report.
Junior Vikatan quoted Vijay’s response that his position on SIR had already been stated and that he would discuss the other requests before responding.
The report claimed that Rahul had not expected this response and that an awkward silence followed during the meeting.
Tea At A Café After The Meeting
According to Junior Vikatan, Manickam Tagore attempted to ease the tension by bringing up the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, arguing that defeating the BJP should be the alliance’s common objective.
The report stated that Rahul was keen to leave soon afterwards. Vijay reportedly invited him to have tea before leaving, and the two then went to a café identified by the magazine as ‘Bask By Coffee’.
The magazine claimed that the café visit helped project an image of cordiality between the alliance partners, despite Vijay’s alleged reluctance to commit to Rahul’s requests.
Congress Leaders Express Discontent Over TVK’s Response
The report quoted a former Union minister from the Congress as expressing dissatisfaction with the TVK leadership’s approach to the alliance.
The former minister alleged that the TVK leadership had not been responsive to Congress demands concerning appointments of government lawyers and positions on boards and other bodies.
The leader also questioned why Vijay had not agreed to publicly support the Congress’s anti-SIR campaign, despite Rahul’s personal request.
According to the report, the Congress leader argued that the TVK could have sent senior ministers to Delhi to strengthen the protest, even if the party did not have MPs of its own. The leader also questioned why the party had not used its social media machinery to campaign for Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, as it had reportedly done to promote Vijay among audiences in northern India.
The former minister warned that the TVK’s reluctance to openly support the Congress against the BJP could strain the alliance.
The report further claimed that some TVK leaders believed the Congress would have little choice but to remain in the alliance, contributing to growing tensions between the partners.
Junior Vikatan concluded that the friction within the alliance was increasing, with little indication that the TVK leadership was making an immediate effort to address the Congress’s concerns.
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