Archive · 6 Sep 2026
Venugopal Says Rahul Gandhi Will Lead INDIA Bloc in 2029
K C Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi will be the face of the INDIA alliance in the 2029 elections.
The alliance is a group of opposition parties.
Some reports and chants had suggested that actor and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay could become its prime ministerial candidate.
Venugopal said TVK had not made that request.
He said Rahul Gandhi’s work with students, farmers and young people had attracted national attention.
He also said the alliance was still strong, even though its parties compete against one another in some states.
Venugopal criticized the BJP government over a student protest and police action in New Delhi.
He also accused the government of creating a “dark age” in India.
K C Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi will lead the INDIA alliance in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Venugopal denied that TVK had proposed Vijay as the alliance’s prime ministerial candidate.
His comments followed reports and chants projecting Vijay for the prime minister’s post.
Venugopal said the INDIA alliance remained strong despite state-level differences among its constituents.
He accused the BJP government of leading India into a “dark age” and criticized its response to student protests.
- Who
- K C Venugopal, Rahul Gandhi, Vijay, the INDIA alliance and TVK are central to the report.
- What
- Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi will lead the INDIA alliance in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections and denied that TVK had proposed Vijay for the prime ministerial post.
- When
- The remarks were reported on September 6; the year is not specified in the article.
- Where
- Venugopal made the remarks in Thrissur, Kerala; he also referred to events in New Delhi and Haldwani, Uttarakhand.
- Why
- He was responding to reports and a chant projecting Vijay as a possible prime ministerial candidate.
Venugopal’s Position
Vijay Projection
Who should lead the alliance
Venugopal’s Position
K C Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi is the face and most prominent leader of the INDIA alliance for the 2029 elections.
Vijay Projection
Reports and a “Vijay for PM” chant projected TVK leader Vijay for the prime minister’s post, although Venugopal said TVK had not made such a demand.
Strength of the INDIA alliance
Venugopal’s Position
Venugopal said the alliance was moving forward and remained strong despite parties competing in some states.
Vijay Projection
The report notes differences among alliance constituents, including state-level competition, without presenting a separate formal response from the other parties.
Assessment of the BJP government
Venugopal’s Position
Venugopal accused the BJP government of leading India into a “dark age” and criticized its justification of police action against students.
Vijay Projection
The article does not include a response from the BJP to these allegations.
- 2029 election
- The next Lok Sabha election referenced in the report.
- INDIA bloc face
- Venugopal said Rahul Gandhi would be the alliance’s face.
- TVK position
- Venugopal said TVK had made no demand to name Vijay as prime ministerial candidate.
- Reported alternative
- Reports and chants projected Vijay for the prime minister’s post.
- Alliance status
- Venugopal said the INDIA alliance remained strong despite differences in some states.
- Other criticism
- He criticized the BJP government over a student protest crackdown and other developments he said indicated a “dark age”.