Folded hands, hugs and bouquets: Vijay meets ex-Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin

A day after taking oath as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister, TVK chief C Joseph Vijay met former CM MK Stalin and Udhayanidhi in Chennai ahead of the crucial May 13 Assembly floor test.

In Short

• MK Stalin congratulated CM Vijay and offered political advice
• Meeting was warm, marked by exchange of shawls and bouquets
• Vijay's TVK govt faces floor test on May 13 to prove majority

Newly appointed Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay on Monday called on his predecessor and DMK supremo MK Stalin, along with Stalin's son Udhayanidhi Stalin, a day after the actor-turned-politician took oath following his unprecedented victory in the recently concluded Assembly elections.

Stalin welcomed Vijay at his Chennai residence, where the two leaders exchanged greetings and embraced each other warmly.

Visuals from the meeting showed Vijay, dressed in a black suit, greeting the DMK chief with folded hands. Stalin responded in kind before the two shook hands and shared a hug ahead of entering the Alwarpet residence.

The meeting was Vijay's first interaction with Stalin after both his electoral triumph and assumption of office as the Chief Minister. The visit was described as a "courtesy call", with Vijay receiving a warm reception from Stalin and former Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin.

During the meeting, Vijay and Stalin also exchanged silk shawls and bouquets as a mark of mutual respect.

The DMK chief later took to X, saying he congratulated Vijay during the meeting and also shared a few words of advice with the newly appointed Chief Minister.

"Honourable Mr. Vijay, who has assumed the role of Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, met me with political courtesy and received my greetings. I extended to him my heartfelt congratulations as well as my advice," Stalin said.

Vijay's brief interaction with Stalin and Udhayanidhi came just days before the crucial floor test in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on May 13, where the TVK government is set to prove its majority in the House. Notably, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and Left parties, which have backed Vijay's TVK government, are also constituents of the DMK-led alliance.

In the Assembly, TVK has 107 seats (after Vijay's resignation from Tiruchirappali East) and the support of 13 MLAs of Congress, VCK, IUML and the Left parties.

Soon after taking oath, Vijay launched a sharp attack on the previous DMK government over the state's alleged Rs 10 lakh crore debt burden. The Chief Minister had also taken an indirect swipe at the DMK over the existence of "multiple power centres", asserting that under his TVK government, he alone would remain the sole centre of power.

Stalin had hit back at Vijay for his debt burden jibe.

- Ends