Despite Congress repeatedly asserting that its alliance with the DMK will continue for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, a quiet, hour-long meeting between senior Congress strategist Praveen Chakravarty and actor Vijay has set off renewed political speculation.
The meeting took place just two days after a Congress poll-panel delegation—led by TNCC in-charge Girish Chodankar—held preliminary alliance discussions with Chief Minister MK Stalin.
Chakravarty Confirms Meeting, Declines to Reveal Agenda
Praveen Chakravarty, who heads the Professionals’ Congress and the party’s Data Analytics Department, confirmed that he met Vijay at the actor’s office in Chennai. However, he declined to reveal the agenda, saying only that the meeting lasted “nearly an hour.”
Congress Sources: ‘Meeting Unlikely Without Rahul Gandhi’s Knowledge’
Highly placed Congress sources, speaking anonymously, said Chakravarty enjoys direct access to Rahul Gandhi, suggesting the meeting was likely known—and possibly approved—by the national leadership.
According to insiders, the Congress high command may be:
- Exploring alternative political avenues
- Seeking to increase bargaining power within the DMK alliance
- Aiming for more seat share and cabinet berths
These are areas where Vijay, through his political movement, has already expressed willingness to collaborate with allies.
Pressure Within TNCC for Bigger Role
Vijay’s openness to power-sharing has encouraged some TNCC leaders—including Congress Legislature Party leader S. Rajeshkumar—to urge the party to demand:
- A larger share of seats
- A more formal coalition government within the DMK alliance
Several state leaders have also reportedly travelled to New Delhi to push for these demands before the AICC.
TNCC Distances Itself From the Meeting
Even as curiosity grows, the TNCC leadership has moved quickly to distance itself from Chakravarty’s engagement with Vijay.
A senior leader remarked:
“At a time when we are working to reinforce our commitment to the DMK alliance, this meeting has poured fuel on the fire.”
The incident has added a new twist to Tamil Nadu’s evolving political landscape as alliances and negotiations intensify ahead of the 2026 election.
Originally published on 24×7-news.com.
