Congress Warns TVK: Back Rahul Gandhi for PM or Ministers Quit

A political rift has opened within Tamil Nadu’s ruling alliance after Congress warned its partner, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), that its ministers would quit the state cabinet unless the party formally backs Rahul Gandhi as the alliance’s Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Congress Ministers Threaten Cabinet Exit

Speaking at a party event in Kanyakumari, Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar said Congress ministers serving in Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay’s cabinet would resign immediately if TVK failed to accept Rahul Gandhi as the alliance’s PM face. Kumar declared that Gandhi would become India’s Prime Minister in 2029, crediting his sustained campaign against the BJP-led central government for the party’s rising popularity.

Survey Fuels TVK’s Push for Vijay

The tension traces back to the India Today-CVoter “Mood of the Nation” survey, which placed Vijay third in public preference for Prime Minister, behind Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi. Following the results, TVK leaders and cadres intensified efforts to project Vijay as a national leader, with posters backing his candidacy appearing across parts of Tamil Nadu, including Thoothukudi. Ministers such as Sarathkumar publicly praised Vijay’s leadership and pushed for his elevation to the national stage.

Despite the cadre-level enthusiasm, TVK has not made any formal declaration naming Vijay as its 2029 Prime Ministerial candidate. Congress leaders, including Karti Chidambaram and Manickam Tagore, have downplayed the campaign, with Tagore describing it as reflective of a “fan club mindset” among TVK supporters rather than a serious political position. The episode underscores growing friction over leadership primacy as both parties position themselves ahead of the 2029 general election.