Congress MLA dismisses ally TVK's PM pitch for Vijay, says Rahul Gandhi will be 2029 candidate

Congress MLA rejects TVK's PM bid for Vijay

Tamil Nadu Congress MLA Tharahai Cuthbert on Wednesday dismissed ally Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam's (TVK) projection of its leader and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, attributing the pitch to the party's roots in the film industry.

"They are TVK MLAs, they are all still in the fan basis. They have come from a fan--film industries as a fan basis. Definitely, they will be saying that," Cuthbert told reporters in Chennai. She added that, politically, the leaders had taken a "stern decision" that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi would be the candidate for the prime minister's post in 2029. "But politically, the leaders have taken a stern decision that 2029, our Rahul ji will be the Prime Minister," she said.

The remarks come amid growing differences over the political positioning of the two parties, with TVK leaders repeatedly projecting Vijay as a possible national leader. TVK PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna had earlier asserted that the country's top constitutional office should be held by a leader from Tamil Nadu. Vijay's name also gained attention after a private media survey placed him among the preferred contenders for Prime Minister in 2029, behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.

Congress minister warns of resignations

Responding to the remarks by TVK leaders, Congress leader and Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar warned that the two Congress ministers in the TVK-led government would resign if the Vijay-led party did not accept Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate. Kumar made the statement at the assumption-of-office ceremony of George Robinson, who took charge as president of the Kanyakumari West District Congress Committee.

BJP questions Congress's role in TVK government

The issue has also drawn criticism from the BJP. National spokesperson CR Kesavan questioned Congress's continued participation in the TVK-led government despite statements from TVK leaders supporting Vijay as a potential prime ministerial candidate.

Context: Alliance shift and seating change

The Congress ended its long-standing alliance with the DMK following the Tamil Nadu assembly elections in April and extended support to TVK, which emerged as the single-largest party but fell short of the majority mark. The Congress backed TVK along with the VCK, IUML, CPI and CPI(M), with the stated condition that "communal forces" be kept out of the government.

Meanwhile, Cuthbert's own position within the Tamil Nadu Assembly had become a subject of discussion earlier this week. On August 31, she was shifted from the section allocated to TVK MLAs to the front row of the Opposition benches. The change came amid speculation over differences between Congress and TVK; Cuthbert had earlier been seated alongside TVK legislators.

Background: Vijay's political entry

Vijay launched TVK in February 2024, becoming the latest Tamil film star to enter state politics. The Congress last led a government at the Centre from 2004 to 2014.