Chennai,05 September (H.S.):The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) will convene a meeting of its post-poll allies in Chennai on September 9 to discuss transforming the existing political understanding into a formal alliance and chart out its future course.

The meeting, scheduled a day after the conclusion of the ongoing Budget session of the Tamil Nadu Assembly, is expected to be attended by TVK president and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and senior leaders of the parties supporting the government.

It will be the second such meeting after leaders of the Congress, Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) and Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) met Vijay in Chennai on July 1. The CPI and CPI(M) had stayed away from that meeting.

The July discussions had focused on establishing a coordination mechanism among the parties. The allies had also agreed to consider drafting a common minimum programme and selecting a name for the proposed political formation. These issues are expected to figure prominently at the September 9 meeting.

Ahead of the meeting, TVK general secretary and Water Resources Minister N. Anand, accompanied by senior leaders and Ministers Aadhav Arjuna, C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar and Rajmohan, met CPI(M) state secretary P. Shanmugam, CPI state secretary M. Veerapandian and MDMK general secretary Vaiko to extend invitations.

The TVK delegation also expressed regret over controversial government circulars seeking details about CPI and CPI(M) members and seeking to prevent student protests. Nirmal Kumar said the circulars had been issued without the government's knowledge.

Veerapandian said the Left parties would discuss the invitation before taking a decision. He, however, reiterated that the CPI would not join the Cabinet.

Vaiko confirmed that the MDMK would participate in the September 9 meeting. The discussions are expected to provide greater clarity on the structure and political direction of the TVK-led alliance.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman