Chief Minister Vijay Hosts Kovalam Meeting to Form New Political Alliance

The ruling TVK party, led by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, organized a meeting of friendly political parties in Kovalam, Chennai, on Wednesday to float a new political alliance. The meeting, scheduled for 4:00 PM, was expected to set the tone for a new front comprising the parties that support the current government, with Chief Minister Vijay likely to announce the name of the new alliance.

Leaders from the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) confirmed their participation in the Kovalam meet. VCK leader Thol Thirumavalavan was among those who confirmed they would attend, a move expected to strengthen ties between these parties and the ruling TVK.

However, the Left parties decided to skip the afternoon alliance meeting despite receiving invitations. Instead, representatives from the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the Communist Party of India (CPI) arranged to meet Chief Minister Vijay at the Secretariat in Chennai at 11:00 AM on Wednesday.

During this morning meeting at the Secretariat, the Left leaders planned to submit a memorandum regarding the welfare of workers and farmers. CPM state secretary Shanmugam described the Secretariat visit as a courtesy call.

CPI state secretary M Veerapandian confirmed that the decision to refrain from the Kovalam meeting was a collective decision by the Left parties. Veerapandian stated that while they have extended support to the TVK to form the government, they are not part of the formal political alliance.

Earlier in the day, TVK ministers N Anand and Aadhav Arjuna had visited Shanmugam and Veerapandian to personally extend invitations to the meeting. According to a senior political leader, the aim of extending these invitations was to reassure the Left parties' commitment toward helping the TVK government complete its tenure.