TVK, led by superstar C. Joseph Vijay, has been circulating the idea that he could become India's Prime Minister in 2029. The Tamil Nadu-based party, which recently adopted the moniker Secular Social Justice Victory Alliance, positioned Vijay as its chairman and has been vocal about his suitability for the top post.
In a sharp counterpoint, Congress stalwart Selvaperunthagai called out the alliance partners on September 9, insisting that Rahul Gandhi must be the face of the party's prime ministerial bid. He warned that without consensus on Gandhi, the coalition would lack legitimacy.
Congress MP Praveen Chakravarthy, meanwhile, downplayed the rift, saying no confusion existed within the partnership and that the alliance had already finalized its name in a Chennai meeting. He added that he had met Gandhi to discuss Tamil Nadu's role in the coalition.
Karti Chidambaram, a veteran Congress leader, cautioned that while parties can champion their own leaders, the ultimate choice of Prime Minister hinges on parliamentary arithmetic. He reminded that a party or formation with majority support in the Lok Sabha ultimately determines the head of government.
For voters in Chennai, the debate feels like a distant drama; one resident, 45‑year‑old Rani, said she is torn between the charisma of Vijay and Gandhi's track record. The clash has put the Tamil Nadu coalition on the brink of a strategic recalibration, and parties will need to decide whether to back Gandhi or accommodate Vijay before the 2029 general elections.