2 days ago
Vijay For PM Pitch Deepens TVK-Congress Alliance Tensions
Some leaders in Vijay’s party want him to be considered for India’s prime minister.
Congress, which helps support Vijay’s Tamil Nadu government, wants Rahul Gandhi to be the candidate in 2029.
A Congress minister warned that the party’s two ministers might leave the cabinet if TVK does not support Gandhi.
TVK leaders have promoted Vijay, and posters supporting him appeared in Tuticorin.
MDMK leader Vaiko also said Rahul Gandhi should be the candidate for the INDIA bloc.
Vaiko asked Vijay to stop ministers from making statements that could hurt the alliance.
Vijay has not said what he thinks about becoming prime minister.
His government depends on other parties because TVK does not have enough Assembly seats to govern alone.
The disagreement could create problems between TVK and Congress.
Congress minister S. Rajeshkumar warned that the party’s two ministers could quit if TVK rejects Rahul Gandhi as its 2029 prime-ministerial candidate.
TVK leaders Aadhav Arjuna and Sarathkumar have publicly promoted Vijay for the top national post, while supporting posters appeared in Tuticorin.
MDMK chief Vaiko said only Rahul Gandhi should be projected by the INDIA bloc and urged Vijay to restrain ministers from making divisive statements.
Vijay has not commented, and a TVK spokesperson declined to address the issue, leaving the party’s national plans unclear.
Reports differ on TVK’s Assembly strength, citing either 107 or 108 seats; both accounts say the party lacks the 118 seats needed for a majority.
- Who
- Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay, TVK leaders, Congress minister S. Rajeshkumar and Congress’s other cabinet minister, and ally Vaiko.
- What
- A dispute has emerged over whether Vijay or Rahul Gandhi should be projected as the prime-ministerial candidate for 2029.
- Where
- The dispute concerns the Tamil Nadu ruling alliance; posters supporting Vijay appeared in Tuticorin.
- When
- The disagreement concerns the 2029 parliamentary elections and emerged less than four months after Vijay formed the Tamil Nadu government.
- Why
- TVK figures are promoting Vijay for a possible national role, while Congress and Vaiko say Rahul Gandhi should represent the INDIA bloc.
Rahul Gandhi Supporters
Vijay Supporters
Prime-ministerial candidate
Rahul Gandhi Supporters
Congress and Vaiko say Rahul Gandhi should be the INDIA bloc’s candidate for prime minister in 2029.
Vijay Supporters
TVK leaders Aadhav Arjuna and Sarathkumar have promoted Vijay as a possible candidate, supported by posters in Tuticorin.
Cabinet participation
Rahul Gandhi Supporters
Rajeshkumar warned that Congress’s two ministers would resign if TVK does not back Rahul Gandhi.
Vijay Supporters
TVK has not formally stated that Vijay will be a national candidate, and the party spokesperson declined to comment.
Meaning of the campaign
Rahul Gandhi Supporters
Vaiko said he does not believe Vijay himself has such an ambition and urged him to stop ministers from complicating the alliance.
Vijay Supporters
The public statements and posters may indicate that sections of TVK are considering a national role for Vijay, although his intentions remain unknown.
Key facts
- Congress warning
- S. Rajeshkumar said Congress’s two ministers would leave the Tamil Nadu cabinet if TVK does not support Rahul Gandhi for prime minister in 2029.
- Vijay campaign
- TVK leaders Aadhav Arjuna and Sarathkumar have backed Vijay, and “Vijay for PM” posters appeared in Tuticorin.
- Vijay’s position
- Vijay has remained silent on the proposal, while a TVK spokesperson said the issue should be ignored for now.
- Assembly majority
- A simple majority in Tamil Nadu’s 234-member Assembly requires 118 seats.
- TVK strength
- The reports differ, giving TVK’s Assembly tally as either 107 or 108 seats; both say the party is short of a majority.
- Alliance support
- Congress has five MLAs and two cabinet ministers; VCK and IUML have two MLAs each and one minister apiece, while CPI and CPM support the government from outside.
- Vaiko’s position
- Vaiko said Congress, as the national head of the INDIA bloc, could project only Rahul Gandhi as its prime-ministerial candidate.
Quotes
S. Rajesh Kumar
Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister and Congress leader
“If Mr. Rahul Gandhi is not accepted by the TVK as the Prime Minister candidate for the 2029 parliamentary election, both the Congress ministers in the Tamil Nadu government will immediately resign their posts and pull out of the Cabinet.”
thestatesman.com
“I am clear. In 2029, our leader Rahul Gandhi will become the next Prime Minister. If by any chance TVK doesn't agree, the two ministers of Congress will not continue in our positions.”
NDTV
Sources
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