Archive · 3 Oct 2026
Tagore Says Congress Support for Vijay Followed Consultations
Manickam Tagore explained why Congress decided to support actor and politician Vijay.
He said the decision was made after discussions, not suddenly.
Congress leaders from Tamil Nadu shared their views with party leaders in Delhi.
Tagore said Congress had first planned to continue working with the DMK.
He said later political events changed the party’s course.
He also said Congress and Vijay share views on issues such as secularism and power-sharing.
Tagore said Vijay and Rahul Gandhi had known each other since 2009.
He pointed to Rahul Gandhi’s support for Vijay after the Karur incident and during a film controversy.
Manickam Tagore said Congress support for Vijay was not a sudden decision.
He said the party consulted Tamil Nadu Congress leaders in Delhi on January 17 about the 2026 Assembly election.
Tagore said Congress chose on March 2 to continue its alliance with the DMK, but later political developments led it to support the TVK.
He said Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge informed DMK leader T.R. Baalu of the decision before further steps were taken.
Tagore cited shared positions on secularism, caste census and power-sharing, and described a relationship between Vijay and Rahul Gandhi dating to 2009.
- Who
- Tamil Nadu Congress president Manickam Tagore, Congress, and Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam president C. Joseph Vijay.
- What
- Tagore said Congress support for Vijay followed internal consultations and was not a sudden decision.
- When
- Tagore referred to consultations on January 17, a decision on March 2, and a joint campaign meeting ahead of an October 6 Assembly by-poll.
- Where
- At a joint campaign meeting in Madurantakam, Tamil Nadu; Tagore also referred to consultations in Delhi.
- Why
- Tagore said later political developments and shared positions on issues including secularism, caste census, and power-sharing contributed to Congress’s support for the TVK.
- Congress leader
- Manickam Tagore, president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee
- TVK leader
- C. Joseph Vijay
- Consultation date
- Tamil Nadu Congress leaders were called to Delhi on January 17 to discuss the 2026 Assembly election.
- Earlier alliance decision
- Tagore said Congress decided on March 2 to continue its alliance with the DMK.
- Joint campaign
- The Madurantakam meeting was described as the first joint campaign event involving the TVK and its alliance partners.
- Shared issues cited
- Tagore named caste census, power-sharing, secularism, and democracy.
- Vijay and Rahul Gandhi
- Tagore said Vijay met Rahul Gandhi in 2009, before launching his political party.