Tamil Nadu political alliance faces friction over 2029 leadership ambitions

Political tensions have emerged within Tamil Nadu’s ruling alliance following statements by Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) legislators regarding the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Some TVK MLAs, including Kanimozhi, have projected Chief Minister Vijay as a potential Prime Ministerial candidate, suggesting that Tamil Nadu could influence national leadership.

In response, Congress leaders have rejected these claims. Congress Legislature Party leader Tharahai Cuthbert stated that Rahul Gandhi remains the party’s choice for Prime Minister in 2029, characterizing the TVK remarks as individual enthusiasm rather than a shift in alliance policy.

Separately, during a Tamil Nadu Assembly debate, Water Resources Minister R. Anand claimed that TVK and Vijay provided electoral opportunities for several veteran leaders, including Assembly Speaker JCD Prabhakar and Revenue Minister KA Sengottaiyan, to return to the House. Sengottaiyan acknowledged that Vijay helped him return to electoral politics following a period of political uncertainty after leaving the AIADMK.