Archive · 2 Sep 2026
TVK Keeps Projecting Vijay as 2029 PM Candidate
Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, or TVK, is a political party led by Vijay, who is Tamil Nadu’s Chief Minister.
TVK lawmaker Kanimozhi Santhosh said Vijay should become India’s Prime Minister after the 2029 election.
She said the people of Tamil Nadu, not leaders in Delhi, would make that decision.
Congress leaders disagree and say Rahul Gandhi is the alliance’s chosen candidate.
They also say Vijay has supported Rahul Gandhi for the job.
Some TVK leaders continue to praise Vijay as a future national leader.
The two parties are trying to prevent this disagreement from hurting their coalition government.
A Congress minister said Congress ministers could resign if TVK does not accept Rahul Gandhi.
TVK MLA Kanimozhi Santhosh reiterated that Vijay would be the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Kanimozhi said Tamil Nadu’s people, rather than Delhi, would decide who becomes Prime Minister.
Congress leaders said Rahul Gandhi remains the accepted alliance candidate, while saying Vijay supports him.
TVK leaders said the public campaigning for Vijay would not necessarily damage the coalition government supported by Congress and other parties.
Congress Minister Rajesh Kumar warned that the party’s two Tamil Nadu ministers could resign if TVK rejects Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy.
- Who
- Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, led by Chief Minister Vijay, and its coalition partner Congress, including Rahul Gandhi, Kanimozhi Santhosh, Tharagai Cuthbert, and Rajesh Kumar.
- What
- TVK is projecting Vijay as its 2029 Prime Ministerial candidate, while Congress maintains that Rahul Gandhi is the alliance’s candidate.
- When
- The latest statements were reported on September 2, 2026, ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
- Where
- The disagreement is centered in Tamil Nadu, including statements made in Chennai and outside the Tamil Nadu Assembly.
- Why
- TVK members want Vijay to lead nationally, while Congress leaders say Rahul Gandhi is the accepted alliance leader.
TVK Position
Congress Position
2029 Prime Ministerial candidate
TVK Position
TVK representatives continue to project Vijay as the party’s candidate for Prime Minister after the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress Position
Congress leaders say Rahul Gandhi is the accepted alliance leader and should be the Prime Ministerial candidate.
Who decides national leadership
TVK Position
Kanimozhi said the people of Tamil Nadu, rather than Delhi, would decide who becomes Prime Minister.
Congress Position
Congress leaders reject the suggestion of a leadership tussle and say Vijay has chosen Rahul Gandhi as the candidate.
Effect on the coalition
TVK Position
TVK leaders, including senior minister CTR Nirmal Kumar, said projecting Vijay would not affect the alliance with Congress or other partners.
Congress Position
Congress leaders have warned that the dispute could affect their participation; Rajesh Kumar said Congress ministers could resign if TVK does not accept Rahul Gandhi.
- TVK candidate
- TVK MLA Kanimozhi Santhosh said Vijay would be the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate in 2029.
- Congress position
- Congress leaders said Rahul Gandhi is the accepted alliance candidate for Prime Minister.
- Decision claimed by TVK
- Kanimozhi said Tamil Nadu, rather than Delhi, would decide who becomes Prime Minister.
- Coalition government
- TVK leads a Tamil Nadu government formed with support from Congress and other parties.
- TVK Assembly result
- TVK won 108 of Tamil Nadu’s 234 Assembly seats in its first election.
- Parliamentary representation
- The reports said TVK does not have a parliamentarian of its own.
- Resignation warning
- Congress Minister and MLA Rajesh Kumar said the party’s two Tamil Nadu ministers could resign if TVK rejects Rahul Gandhi.
