Archive · 1 Sep 2026
Congress Leader Gets Opposition Front-Row Seat Amid TVK Tensions
Tharahai Cuthbert is a Congress leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
She used to sit with lawmakers from the TVK section.
On Monday, she was given a seat in the front row of the Opposition benches.
One report said this followed her selection as Congress floor leader.
The change also happened while people were discussing possible disagreements between Congress and TVK.
A Congress minister said Congress ministers would resign if TVK did not support Rahul Gandhi for prime minister in 2029.
Some TVK leaders have said their leader, C Joseph Vijay, could be a possible candidate instead.
The BJP asked why Congress was still part of the TVK government.
Tamil Nadu Congress Legislature Party leader Tharahai Cuthbert was allotted a front-row seat on the Opposition benches on Monday.
Cuthbert had previously sat in the section allocated to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam MLAs.
One report linked the change to her selection as Congress floor leader, while another noted speculation about Congress-TVK differences.
Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar said Congress ministers would resign if TVK did not support Rahul Gandhi for prime minister in 2029.
TVK leaders have promoted Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a possible candidate, while BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan questioned Congress’s continued participation in the TVK government.
- Who
- Tharahai Cuthbert, the Tamil Nadu Congress Legislature Party leader; Congress; Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam; and BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan.
- What
- Cuthbert was allotted a front-row seat on the Opposition benches after previously sitting in the section allocated to TVK MLAs.
- When
- Monday; the related comments by Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar were made on Saturday.
- Where
- The Tamil Nadu Assembly in Chennai, Tamil Nadu.
- Why
- The first report attributed the change to Cuthbert’s selection as Congress floor leader, while the second connected it to speculation about Congress-TVK differences; no definitive political reason was reported.
Congress and Rahul Gandhi Support
TVK Projection and BJP Criticism
Potential 2029 prime ministerial candidate
Congress and Rahul Gandhi Support
Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar said Rahul Gandhi would become prime minister in 2029 and said Congress ministers would resign if TVK did not support him.
TVK Projection and BJP Criticism
TVK leaders, including PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna, have promoted Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a possible contender and said the country’s top constitutional office should be held by a leader from Tamil Nadu.
Congress’s role in the government
Congress and Rahul Gandhi Support
Congress remains part of the TVK government under a support arrangement formed after the 2026 election, with the condition that communal forces be kept out of the government.
TVK Projection and BJP Criticism
BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan said Congress should withdraw from the Cabinet or government if TVK ministers’ statements amounted to rejecting Rahul Gandhi.
Meaning of the seating change
Congress and Rahul Gandhi Support
The first report said the seat was changed after Cuthbert was selected as Congress floor leader; the available reports do not establish that it represented a political break.
TVK Projection and BJP Criticism
The second report said the move occurred amid speculation about differences between Congress and TVK, but it also did not report a confirmed explanation from either party.
- MLA affected
- Tharahai Cuthbert, Colachel MLA and Tamil Nadu Congress Legislature Party leader
- New seat
- Front row of the Opposition benches
- Previous seat
- Section allocated to Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam MLAs
- Congress position
- Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar said Congress ministers would resign if TVK did not support Rahul Gandhi for prime minister in 2029
- TVK position
- TVK leaders have projected party chief and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential prime ministerial contender
- BJP reaction
- BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan questioned why Congress remained in the TVK government
- Government formation
- TVK formed the government after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections with support from VCK, IUML, Congress, CPI and CPI(M)
