The day after a coffee meeting with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi at a Chennai café, CM M.K. Stalin joined PM Narendra Modi on the city’s metro to flag off Phase II of the Chennai Metro Rail—an investment worth ₹13,000 crore. The two leaders also toured a temple on the IIT Madras campus, a gesture meant to showcase the CM’s outreach beyond party lines.
Deputy Electricity Minister Nirmal Kumar said the CM’s dual engagements demonstrate a pragmatic approach: "We climb down only for Tamil Nadu’s welfare. Yesterday was a coffee with Rahul, today a function with the Prime Minister," he told reporters. Stalin has sent a six‑point list to Modi, demanding unconditional release of withheld funds, expansion of three highways, Tamil as an official language of the Madras High Court, approval for Metro Phase III, and metro links to Madurai, Coimbatore, Hosur and Bommasandra.
Political observers note the stakes: the Congress‑DMK alliance swept Tamil Nadu in both 2019 and 2024 Lok Sabha polls, and Congress is positioning Rahul Gandhi for a 2029 prime‑ministerial candidacy. Modi, recalling his work with former CM J. Jayalalithaa and M.K. Stalin, stressed his commitment to Tamil Nadu’s growth, yet no concrete answers have emerged for Stalin’s demands.
Stalin will present his list to the Union Cabinet next month, while Modi is slated to review it in a cabinet meeting. The outcome will determine whether the CM can secure the federal support needed for the state’s ambitious infrastructure agenda and whether he can maintain a delicate balance between the Congress alliance and the BJP‑led Centre.