Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Joseph Vijay on Monday met Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and former Chief Minister M K Stalin in Chennai, just days ahead of the crucial floor test scheduled in the State Assembly on May 13. The meeting, held at Stalin’s Alwarpet residence, was described by government sources as a courtesy call but carried significant political importance given the upcoming confidence test.

Vijay, who recently assumed office following the electoral success of his Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), was received by Stalin along with his son and Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin. The interaction included formal exchanges of shawls and bouquets, while Udhayanidhi also presented Vijay with a book documenting the DMK’s political journey. The meeting was marked by cordial gestures, including greetings, handshakes, and brief conversations between the leaders.

The timing of the meeting is being closely watched as Vijay’s government prepares to face a floor test in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly. His administration will need to prove its majority on the floor of the House, making political alignments and support from allied parties crucial in the coming days. TVK is said to have the backing of several allies, which could be decisive in crossing the majority mark.

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According to political observers, TVK currently holds 107 MLAs after Vijay’s resignation from his earlier constituency seat, while additional support from parties such as the Congress, VCK, IUML, and Left formations is expected to strengthen its position. The combination of these alliances is seen as central to the government’s confidence test strategy ahead of the vote.

The meeting also comes shortly after Vijay launched a sharp political critique of the previous DMK government, accusing it of leaving behind a large debt burden and criticising what he described as multiple centres of power within the administration. His remarks had triggered responses from DMK leadership, further intensifying the political discourse in the state ahead of the floor test.

Later in the day, Vijay also visited MDMK founder Vaiko at his residence, where he was welcomed by party representatives and supporters. Vaiko reportedly appreciated Vijay’s political outreach and described it as a positive step towards maintaining democratic engagement between ruling and opposition parties in Tamil Nadu’s evolving political landscape.

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