Silverscreen to South Block: Tamil Nadu’s New CM Vijay Makes His Delhi Debut
Actor-turned-Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay travels to New Delhi for his first official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just 17 days after being sworn in — with the Mekedatu dam and state development high on the agenda.
By NewsArc Bureau
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay arrived in New Delhi on Wednesday, May 27, for his first official meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, just 17 days after his swearing-in on May 10 — marking a significant moment in the early days of his government following the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s historic victory in the April 2026 Assembly elections.
The Mekedatu dam project emerged as a top priority for the Tamil Nadu government in the talks. Following a high-level consultative meeting with water resource experts and legal advisors on May 25, CM Vijay was expected to convey the state’s firm opposition to the proposed balancing reservoir by Karnataka, which his administration argues could severely impact water flow to the Cauvery delta and threaten the livelihoods of farmers in the region.
Beyond the Cauvery dispute, the meeting was expected to cover a broad range of development initiatives for Tamil Nadu. CM Vijay also scheduled meetings with senior Union ministers and national leaders, including Congress veterans Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi, reflecting the diverse coalition support that helped his government secure its majority.
In a cultural gesture aimed at strengthening ties between Tamil Nadu and the national capital, the Chief Minister was also expected to visit Jawaharlal Nehru University to inaugurate a statue of the legendary Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar.
The visit marks a striking political pivot for Vijay, who had previously declared the BJP an “ideological enemy” during the election campaign. The maiden Modi-Vijay meeting signals that the business of governance has now taken precedence over campaign rhetoric, as the new Chief Minister moves swiftly to secure resources and federal support for his state.
