Rahul Gandhi meets CM Vijay in Chennai: An hour of talks, then coffee together

Rahul Gandhi met Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay in Chennai ahead of a student outreach event. The visit comes as the SSV alliance settles into the INDIA bloc and Congress pitches an open youth interaction on education and jobs.

In Short

• The outreach event will centre on education, exams and employment concerns
• Organisers expect 10,000 to 20,000 registered students with QR codes
• Tagore said Gandhi would address NEET, jobs and women's education

Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) president C Joseph Vijay over lunch at his Neelankarai residence in Chennai on Saturday.

The meeting came amid Opposition protests in New Delhi over the “vote chori” issue and demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

Gandhi has repeatedly criticised the Election Commission over electoral rolls and what the Congress has described as irregularities in the electoral process.

The meeting took place ahead of Gandhi’s youth outreach programme, Chhatron Ki Goonj, also known as Maanavargalin Kural, at Chennai’s Island Grounds later in the day.

RAHUL GANDHI MEETS VIJAY

The meeting was the first interaction between Gandhi and Vijay since the TVK-led Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance (SSV) was formally named and TVK joined the INDIA bloc.

The meeting also came a day after the ruling alliance's victories in the Madurantakam and Dharapuram Assembly bypolls. The SSV alliance comprises TVK, Congress, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK).

Gandhi arrived in Chennai from Delhi earlier in the day and travelled to Vijay's Neelankarai residence for the lunch meeting.

Gandhi was with Vijay for about an hour, during which the two leaders discussed several political issues, according to party sources.

After the meeting, Gandhi and Vijay visited a nearby caf in Palavakkam, where they reportedly had cappuccino, tiramisu, cookies and coffee. Gandhi later proceeded to a hotel in the city.

The cafe, located in a quiet neighbourhood near the beach and close to the East Coast Road, is owned by Nirav Shah, Bhavesh Shah and Taruna Hinduja.

He had earlier attended Vijay's swearing-in ceremony as chief minister on May 10, 2026.

The meeting assumes significance as the Congress continues to make electoral issues a key part of its political campaign, while TVK has recently joined the Opposition-led alliance in Tamil Nadu.

CHHATRON KI GOONJ STUDENT INTERACTION

Gandhi is scheduled to interact with students at Island Grounds as part of the Congress's youth outreach programme.

Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief Manickam Tagore said between 10,000 and 20,000 students who registered and received QR codes were expected to attend.

“Our leader will address issues related to Tamil Nadu students, such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, lack of jobs, education for girls and women and the Union government's educational policy. It is going to be an interaction session,” Tagore said.

The event has been presented as an interaction rather than a conventional political rally, with students expected to raise questions on jobs, education costs and competitive examinations.

The Congress and its student wings have put up banners, flyers and digital posters across Chennai and at Island Grounds.

The campaign uses the Hindi title Chhatron Ki Goonj alongside its Tamil version, ‘Maanavargalin Kural’.

CHENNAI UNDER FIVE-TIER SECURITY COVER

Security arrangements have been tightened across Chennai ahead of Gandhi's visit and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled programmes in the city on October 11.

Officials said around 15,000 police personnel have been deployed as part of a five-tier security arrangement led by Chennai Police Commissioner A Amalraj. Additional checks have been introduced along transit routes and near the venue.

Entry to the student event is restricted to registered participants with QR codes. Separate entry corridors have been arranged for male and female students, while the general public will not be allowed inside the venue, according to police.

After the interaction, Gandhi is scheduled to leave for Chennai Airport at around 8.30 pm to board his 9.40 pm flight to New Delhi.

- Ends