TVK Alliance Meeting Set Amid Left Boycott and Cong Rift

The ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) party is set to hold its second alliance coordination meeting on Wednesday in Chennai, aiming to formalize the structure and functioning of its coalition government. The meeting, chaired by Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay at the party headquarters, will focus on drafting a Common Minimum Programme, establishing a steering committee, and finalizing an official name for the alliance. Invitations have been extended to all partners, including the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK), Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK). However, the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPIM), which provide outside support to the government, are expected to boycott the meeting. CPIM state secretary P Shanmugam clarified that the Left parties' support is issue-based and aimed at maintaining government stability, stating they do not wish to join a formal alliance structure without cabinet berths. This marks the second consecutive boycott of formal alliance talks by the Left parties since July 1. The meeting occurs amidst internal friction within the ruling bloc.