Chennai: Senior Congress leader and former Union Finance Minister, P. Chidambaram, on Tuesday met Tamil Nadu Chief Minister and TVK President C. Joseph Vijay at the State Secretariat, triggering fresh political speculation over the forthcoming Rajya Sabha bye-election from the state.
The meeting comes at a crucial time as political parties begin consultations ahead of the bye-election announced by the Election Commission of India to fill a vacant Rajya Sabha seat.
The vacancy arose after former AIADMK Rajya Sabha member C. Ve. Shanmugam resigned from the Upper House following his election to the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly from the Mailam constituency.
According to political sources, the Congress is keen on securing the seat and is seeking the support of the ruling TVK-led alliance.
The party, which has five MLAs in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, had extended support to the TVK government after the Assembly elections and remains a key ally of the ruling dispensation.
Sources familiar with the developments said Chidambaram conveyed the views of the Congress high command during his discussion with CM Vijay.
While details of the meeting were not officially disclosed, the Rajya Sabha bye-election is believed to have figured prominently in the talks.
The ruling TVK is in a strong position numerically to determine the outcome of the election. With 107 MLAs of its own in the Assembly and the backing of its alliance partners, the party enjoys a comfortable majority and is expected to play a decisive role in selecting the next Rajya Sabha member from the State.
Political observers note that the Congress views the vacant seat as an opportunity to strengthen its representation in Parliament and is hopeful of receiving support from the ruling alliance.
However, no formal announcement has been made regarding the party’s candidate. Sources indicated that CM Vijay is expected to hold detailed consultations with senior TVK leaders and alliance partners before arriving at a final decision on the candidature.
The ruling party is likely to weigh both political considerations and alliance dynamics before announcing its stand.
The bypoll has already sparked considerable interest in political circles, with discussions intensifying over whether the TVK will field its own nominee or back a candidate from one of its supporting parties, including the Congress.
(IANS)
