(Image source from: X/CMOTamilnadu)

Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi today during his first official visit to the capital after taking office this month. In their 20-minute discussion, the chief minister presented a list of issues related to Tamil Nadu and requested the prime minister's consideration of these matters. Vijay expressed gratitude to PM Modi for the recent return of ancient copper plates from Holland. He also brought up the sensitive topic regarding Karnataka's announcement about a dam project in Mekedatu, which would impact water supply in his state. Another significant request from the prime minister was to allow the state anthem to be played at the start of government events. This request was related to a ruling from the Union Home Ministry in January that mandated all six stanzas of Vande Mataram, by poet Bankim Chandra Chattopadhyay, should be sung first when the national song and anthem are to be played together. During Vijay's swearing-in ceremony, Vande Mataram was sung in its entirety, followed by the national anthem Jana Gana Mana and the state song Tamil Thai Vazhthu.

Regarding the Mekedatu water issue, Vijay informed the prime minister that any decision made solely by the Karnataka government to construct a dam near the border of the two states would go against the intentions of the Cauvery Water Tribunal and the Supreme Court's ruling. Since such a project requires approval from the Union government, Vijay asked PM Modi to tell the Jal Shakti Ministry not to permit the dam's construction. Karnataka's Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar announced that the state would soon submit an updated detailed project report for the Mekedatu project to the Union government and proceed with the plans. Shivakumar also reportedly claimed that Tamil Nadu had "no right" to oppose the project, which caused immediate reactions in the neighboring state, where tensions over Cauvery water have a long history. Another request Vijay made to PM Modi was to establish the Defence Research and Development Organisation's (DRDO) Centre for Airborne Systems in Tamil Nadu.

Vijay, who leads the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), successfully won a trust vote on May 13 with the backing of Congress, CPI, CPI(M), VCK, and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) MLAs. The TVK became the largest party after securing 108 seats in the assembly elections. Additionally, at least 25 AIADMK MLAs went against their party and supported Vijay in the assembly.