Allies Push Back on 'Vijay for PM' Pitch, Back Rahul Gandhi for 2029

The campaign within Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) to project Chief Minister Vijay as a Prime Ministerial candidate has triggered friction within the ruling alliance, with key partners openly backing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister Rajeshkumar, a Congress leader, issued a firm warning, stating that the party's two ministers in the state cabinet would step down if the alliance did not support Rahul Gandhi's Prime Ministerial bid in 2029. "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," he said.

The remarks come after TVK leaders Aadhav Arjuna and Sarathkumar publicly pitched Vijay for the top post, with posters supporting the campaign surfacing in Tuticorin. While Congress MP Karti Chidambaram had earlier dismissed the pitch as a "fan club mindset," Rajeshkumar's statement marks a more direct challenge from within the cabinet.

MDMK chief Vaiko, another alliance partner, also weighed in, arguing that as the head of the INDIA bloc, Congress could only project Rahul Gandhi as its Prime Ministerial candidate. He said he did not believe Vijay harboured such ambitions and advised ministers to avoid public statements that could strain the alliance. "Ministers should not speak whatever they think while being part of an alliance. The Chief Minister should ask them not to speak on this," Vaiko said.

The political stakes are high for the Vijay government, which relies on allies for its majority. TVK has 107 MLAs in the 234-member assembly, short of the 118 needed for a simple majority. The government depends on support from Congress (5 MLAs), VCK and IUML (2 each), and outside support from CPI and CPM (2 each).

Vijay has remained silent on the issue, leaving the question open as to whether the campaign is a test of national ambitions or a move aimed at the 2029 polls. A TVK spokesperson declined to comment, saying, "Let's ignore it for now."