Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman meets Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan in national capital
_vb_03.jpeg)
New Delhi (PTI): Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday held a meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan in the national capital.
Kerala Governor Rajendra Viswanath Arlekar and Kerala government's Special Representative in the national capital K V Thomas were also present at the meeting, which the state government said was an informal meeting.
The Left Democratic Front (LDF)-ruled Kerala and the BJP-led Centre have differences over various issues, including on relief package for disaster-hit Wayanad and central funds.
Against this backdrop, the meeting assumes significance as Kerala has raised various demands with the Centre amid financial woes faced by the state and also underscores the intentions of LDF to have good relations with the Centre.
Opposition Congress in Kerala has also been alleging that there is a tacit understanding between LDF and BJP ahead of the polls in the state next year.
In a post on X, Sitharaman's office shared a picture of the meeting, which went on for about 50 minutes.
Details about the meeting could not be immediately ascertained.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
