Speculation over Congress-TVK alliance strains in Tamil Nadu assembly

NEW DELHI: Speculation over differences between Congress and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu grew on Monday after Congress MLA Tharahai Cuthbert was shifted to the front row of the opposition benches in the state assembly.

This comes a day after state tourism minister S Rajesh Kumar said Congress ministers in the state cabinet would resign if TVK did not support Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Speaking at an event in Kanyakumari on Saturday, Kumar said Rahul Gandhi would become the Prime Minister in 2029. The remarks came amid statements by TVK leaders projecting party chief and Tamil Nadu chief minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential contender for the PM's post.

TVK PWD minister Aadhav Arjuna had earlier said the country's top constitutional office should be held by a leader from Tamil Nadu. BJP national spokesperson CR Kesavan questioned why the Congress continued to be part of the TVK government despite the differences over the prime ministerial candidate.

"Repeated assertions by multiple TVK Ministers even inside on the floor of the Tamil Nadu Assembly touting their leader as a probable Prime Minister is an outright rejection of the failed and dismal leadership of Rahul Gandhi by the TVK. Now, what is preventing the opportunistic Congress party from coming out of the cabinet of the TVK government? Because the TVK minister's statements are a scathing vote of no confidence, and TVK is an alliance partner, but the Congress party still continues to be in the TVK government.

Why is the Congress party not withdrawing support to the TVK government after their leader Rahul Gandhi has been insulted?" news agency ANI quoted Kesavan saying.

The issue has gained further attention after a private media survey placed Vijay among the preferred candidates for PM in 2029, behind PM Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.

The TVK government was formed after the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, when the party emerged as the largest force and formed the government with support from VCK, IUML, Congress, CPI and CPI(M).