Chennai, 27 May (H.S.):Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay left for New Delhi on Wednesday on his first official visit to the national capital after assuming office earlier this month, with a series of high-level political and administrative meetings scheduled over the next two days.

The visit comes at a politically significant time following the formation of Tamil Nadu’s first coalition government in decades, led by Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK). The party emerged as the single largest force in the Assembly elections, after which Vijay assumed office as Chief Minister on May 10 with the support of the Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK and IUML.

According to official sources, Vijay is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday evening at the Prime Minister’s residence. During the meeting, the Chief Minister is likely to submit a detailed memorandum seeking enhanced Central assistance for several infrastructure, welfare and development projects in Tamil Nadu.

Among the major issues expected to be raised are the expansion of the Chennai Metro Rail network, release of pending GST compensation dues, allocation of educational funds under the PMSRI scheme, and timely supply of fertilisers, including urea, ahead of the kharif cultivation season.

The Chief Minister is also expected to urge the Centre to intervene in the recurring fishermen issue involving arrests by the Sri Lankan Navy and reiterate Tamil Nadu’s opposition to Karnataka’s proposed Mekedatu reservoir project across the Cauvery river.

As part of the visit, Vijay will inaugurate a statue of Tamil poet-saint Thiruvalluvar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, highlighting Tamil cultural identity at the national level.

Apart from Prime Minister Modi, Vijay is also expected to meet President Droupadi Murmu, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and senior Congress leaders, including Sonia Gandhi, Mallikarjun Kharge and Rahul Gandhi.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman