As TVK leaders raise ‘Vijay for PM’ campaign, unease grows in Congress

Friction has emerged between Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam and Congress after posters and videos projected Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential prime ministerial candidate. Congress leaders reportedly fear the campaign could confuse the alliance’s national positioning and undermine plans to promote Rahul Gandhi

Chennai: Signs of friction have surfaced between the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and its ally, Congress, amid a campaign portraying Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a prime ministerial candidate, according to sources in the party. The Congress leadership is reportedly uneasy over posters and videos promoting Vijay for the country’s top post.

Although the campaign is believed to be driven by a section of TVK supporters seeking to impress the party leadership, Congress functionaries fear it could create confusion about the alliance’s national political position. The debate began after TVK legislators and Ministers repeatedly praised Vijay in the Assembly.

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It later moved beyond the House, with posters presenting him as a prime ministerial contender appearing in public places. Promotional reels have also circulated in northern India, where the Congress party considers itself the principal opposition force to the BJP. The campaign received attention following a survey conducted by a television channel.

The survey placed Vijay third among possible prime ministerial choices, with nine per cent support, behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The finding reportedly added to the discomfort within Congress.

Party sources said leaders were unhappy that Vijay was being projected for the post only months after the TVK-Congress coalition assumed office in Tamil Nadu. They also cited Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore’s recent criticism of Ministers for displaying what he described as a fan mentality.

The situation is sensitive for the Congress party because it ended its association with the DMK, which had supported Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial choice, before joining hands with the TVK.

Congress MP Jothimani recently termed CM Vijay’s projection an election strategy but asserted that Rahul Gandhi remained unmatched in confronting and defeating the Narendra Modi-led government.

Asked about the controversy in Madurai on Saturday, State Minister Nirmal Kumar said people across India had aspirations for Vijay. He added that CM Vijay would take decisions based on the political situation and maintained that the matter did not require discussion at present.

Congress leaders had reportedly intended to present Rahul Gandhi as the alliance’s national face while drawing on CM Vijay’s popularity to improve the coalition’s prospects across southern India. The competing projection of Vijay, however, has complicated that strategy and prompted questions about the coalition’s future messaging, leadership priorities and political cohesion.