Chennai, June 7 (IANS) Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) President C. Joseph Vijay will visit New Delhi on June 11 to participate in the NITI Aayog Governing Council meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, marking his second visit to the national capital within a fortnight.

While the meeting itself is expected to focus on governance and development, political observers are closely watching the Chief Minister’s likely engagements with leaders of national opposition parties, particularly those within the broader anti-BJP political spectrum.

According to official sources, CM Vijay is expected to use the NITI Aayog platform to press Tamil Nadu’s case on several key financial and developmental issues.

The Chief Minister is likely to seek greater support from the Union government for infrastructure projects, welfare programmes and development initiatives that are expected to figure prominently in the state’s upcoming Budget.

State government officials indicated that CM Vijay may also raise concerns over pending financial allocations and the release of funds for centrally sponsored schemes.

Issues related to rural employment programmes, school education funding and broader fiscal challenges faced by states are expected to feature in his address before the Governing Council.

The June 11 meeting comes at a time when India is confronting a range of economic challenges, including the impact of continuing instability in West Asia, which has affected global energy markets and contributed to rising costs for governments, businesses and households.

Beyond the official agenda, attention is likely to focus on CM Vijay’s political schedule in the national capital.

During his previous visit to New Delhi on May 27, the Chief Minister met Prime Minister Modi and senior Union ministers but was unable to meet Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge.

The absence of those meetings generated considerable political discussion in Tamil Nadu, particularly given the Congress party’s role as a key ally of the ruling TVK government.

At the time, Congress leaders cited their preoccupation with political developments in Karnataka, while the TVK maintained that CM Vijay’s visit was strictly official in nature.

It also remains unclear whether Vijay will hold discussions with leaders of the CPI and CPI(M), whose parties are extending outside support to the minority TVK government. Adding another layer of political significance to the visit is the evolving dynamics within the INDIA bloc.

With the DMK choosing to stay away from the alliance’s recent meeting and publicly expressing differences with Congress, speculation has intensified over whether opposition parties may seek closer engagement with TVK as they reassess political alignments ahead of future electoral contests.

For Vijay, the June 11 Delhi visit is expected to be both an opportunity to advocate Tamil Nadu’s interests before the Centre and a chance to strengthen his party’s position within the rapidly shifting landscape of national opposition politics.

–IANS

aal/dpb