Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam leaders signal national ambitions for C. Joseph Vijay

The political alliance between the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and the Congress party in Tamil Nadu is facing significant strain due to diverging national ambitions. Senior TVK leaders have reportedly stated that the party was not formed to support Rahul Gandhi’s bid for Prime Minister, signaling a shift toward promoting their own leader, C. Joseph Vijay, as a potential national figure.

TVK leadership is reportedly exploring a national strategy that includes expanding beyond Tamil Nadu and potentially rebranding as ‘Desiya Vetri Kazhagam’. A senior TVK minister suggested that if the party secures approximately 100 Lok Sabha seats in the 2029 elections, Vijay could emerge as a contender for Prime Minister, drawing parallels to the 1996 election where coalition arithmetic elevated H. D. Deve Gowda.

These developments have caused friction within the alliance. Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore has criticized TVK leaders, accusing them of operating with a ‘fan-club mentality’. While the two parties remain allies in Tamil Nadu, their long-term goals appear to be at odds, as Congress focuses on Rahul Gandhi’s national leadership while TVK seeks to convert Vijay’s regional popularity into a broader electoral presence.