Congress MLA Tharahai Cuthbert Rejects TVK Pitch for Vijay as Prime Minister

Congress MLA Tharahai Cuthbert on Wednesday rejected the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s (TVK) pitch for party chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential Prime Ministerial candidate, stating that Congress leaders have firmly decided to back Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for the top post in 2029.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Cuthbert attributed TVK's statements to the party's background in cinema, asserting that their legislators were speaking from a fan base rather than a political footing.

"They are TVK MLAs, they are all still in the fan basis. They have come from a fan--film industries as a fan basis. Definitely, they will be saying that. But politically, the leaders have taken a stern decision that 2029, our Rahul ji will be the Prime Minister," Cuthbert said.

The remarks follow growing friction between the two parties, with TVK leaders repeatedly projecting Vijay as a potential national leader. TVK PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna had earlier stated that the country's top constitutional office should be held by a leader from Tamil Nadu. Vijay's name had also drawn attention following a private media survey that ranked him among preferred contenders for Prime Minister in 2029, behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Rahul Gandhi.

The development prompted criticism from the BJP, with national spokesperson CR Kesavan questioning Congress' continued participation in the TVK-led government despite TVK's push for Vijay.

Inside the Tamil Nadu Assembly, Cuthbert was shifted on August 31 from the section allocated to TVK MLAs to the front row of the Opposition benches amid speculation over widening differences between the parties.

The tension also follows a recent statement by Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar, who said Congress ministers would resign if TVK did not support Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate in 2029.