Palaniswami Mocks Vijay Over PM Push, Says He Could Even Become US President

AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami has taken a sharp dig at Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay, suggesting that if his supporters can project him as a future Prime Minister, he could just as easily be imagined as President of the United States. The remark came as leaders of Vijay’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, continue to push for their chief to take on a larger national political role, a move that has stirred friction within the ruling coalition.

Rift Within the Ruling Alliance

The push by TVK leaders has reportedly unsettled coalition partners, with a Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister reportedly warning that two Congress ministers could step down if Vijay’s party failed to back Rahul Gandhi as the Congress-led alliance’s Prime Ministerial face for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. This has exposed underlying tensions between TVK’s ambitions and the expectations of its coalition allies.

Costly Governance and Reel-Based Politics

Palaniswami didn’t stop at the presidential jibe. He also criticised Vijay’s administration as expensive to run, drawing comparisons with the frugal style of former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa and cautioning that the state’s debt could climb as high as Rs 10 lakh crore. He further accused the government of prioritising social media publicity over substantive governance, alleging that major decisions—such as the opening of the Mettur Dam—were made without consulting farmers. AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran echoed similar concerns, comparing the state’s administration to a film set run on optics rather than outcomes.

The exchange highlights growing political tension in Tamil Nadu as TVK’s national ambitions collide with coalition dynamics ahead of future elections.