Rahul Gandhi entered C. Joseph Vijay’s Neelankarai residence at around 10 a.m., greeting the Chief Minister before the two walked to a nearby café for a brief, informal discussion.
The café scene saw both leaders order cappuccino, tiramisu and cookies, sparking a flurry of selfies and live‑streamed moments that trended across Tamil Nadu’s social media.
After the dessert break, Rahul Gandhi headed to the Island Grounds to launch the youth outreach drive "Chhatron Ki Goonj," where more than 100,000 students had already registered online.
The meeting was part of the fresh Congress‑TVK alliance that took shape after the Assembly election produced a hung verdict, ending the Congress’s long‑standing partnership with the DMK.
Political analysts say the cordial encounter signals a strategic push by both parties to consolidate support ahead of the next state elections, with the Alliance expected to field joint candidates in key constituencies.
The next major event will be the joint election rally scheduled for 15 November, where both leaders will address a joint march in Chennai’s Marina Beach.