The two leaders sat together at the PMO’s Seva Teerth hall on 27 May 2026 for roughly 25 minutes – a far shorter sit‑down than the 30‑40 minute window many analysts had projected. During that brief exchange Vijay handed Modi a petition that listed five priority demands, the most headline‑grabbing of which was a request to let the Tamil Nadu state anthem precede the national song Vande Mataram at all official functions.
Petition Highlights
- Vande Mataram controversy – Vijay asked the Union Home Ministry to issue a directive that Tamil Thai Vazhthu be sung before Vande Mataram, citing cultural‑identity concerns raised in the state assembly.
- Mekedatu dam – He urged the Centre to halt Karnataka’s proposed project until all Cauvery‑basin states consent, referencing a recent bhoomi‑pooja that contravenes Supreme‑Court orders.
- Defence and aerospace – The chief minister pressed for the establishment of a Centre for Airborne Systems (CABS) and an aircraft‑design hub in Tamil Nadu, building on an ongoing DRDO study of the AMCA programme.
- Fishermen’s arrests – The petition noted that 58 Tamil Nadu fishermen are detained in Sri Lankan prisons and 288 boats seized, demanding immediate federal intervention.
- Anaimangalam copper plates – Vijay thanked the Centre for the repatriation of the historic artefacts from the Netherlands, calling it a “cultural triumph.”
The petition, released by the Tamil Nadu Department of Information and Public Relations, was signed by Vijay’s chief secretary and a senior official from the Ministry of Home Affairs, underscoring its official status.
Vijay’s Delhi trip came just seventeen days after his swearing‑in on 10 May, a faster schedule than most new chief ministers. By comparison, AIADMK’s Edappadi K Palaniswami met Modi six days after taking office in 2017, while DMK’s MK Stalin waited 42 days after his 2021 inauguration. Observers see the quick outreach as a signal that the new TVK‑led government is eager to press fiscal and infrastructural demands on the Centre.
Political Underpinnings
During his 2021 campaign, Vijay repeatedly portrayed the BJP as an ideological opponent, condemning its Hindutva stance and alleging covert alignments with the DMK. His current cabinet, which includes several Congress leaders, adds another layer of complexity to Centre‑state negotiations. The Vande Mataram row, in particular, has ignited a fresh debate in Tamil Nadu over cultural protocol at government events.
Sources say Vijay will also meet Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Home Minister Amit Shah and Vice‑President C P Radhakrishnan. He is also slated for talks with senior Congress figures Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge at 10 Janpath later this week.
The meeting’s brevity has left analysts speculating whether any substantive concessions were secured, but the petition’s public release ensures that the issues Vijay raised will remain on the national agenda.
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