A fresh political debate has erupted in Tamil Nadu after conflicting statements from senior Congress leaders regarding actor-politician Vijay’s recent interaction with the party high command.
According to a Thanthi TV report, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram confirmed that TVK president Vijay recently spoke to Lok Sabha Opposition Leader Rahul Gandhi, adding fuel to growing speculation about political realignments ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Karti also claimed that Vijay’s engagement with the Congress dates back more than a decade. As per the report, Karti reportedly said that some years ago, Vijay wanted to become the president of the Congress youth wing suggesting that the actor’s political ambitions were long-standing.
Karti’s remarks were interpreted as an indication of possible outreach between the Congress and TVK.
Jothimani Counters: “Meeting Not New… But Not a Basis for Alliance”
Hours later, Congress MP Jothimani issued a contrasting statement, downplaying the political significance of Vijay’s interactions with senior Congress leaders.
She said Vijay was “not new” to the party and had even met Rahul Gandhi in 2010 to explore joining the Congress, though it did not materialise.
However, she cautioned against drawing political conclusions from recent meetings. According to her, conversations during personal or tragic moments such as the Karur stampede incident where leaders met Vijay “cannot be taken as the foundation for an election alliance.”
Jothimani stressed that the Congress remains firmly aligned with the DMK. She reiterated that the alliance is strong and longstanding, adding that social media speculation should not be mistaken for political signalling.
She said there was still considerable time for the 2026 election and that party decisions are “not made on the basis of online chatter.”
Alliance Signalling or Noise?
The contradictory remarks – Karti confirming the meeting and past interest, and Jothimani dismissing political implications come at a time when the Congress in Tamil Nadu is believed to be eyeing Vijay’s influence in Kerala and Puducherry.
In recent weeks, several state-level Congress leaders have reportedly urged the party high command to deepen engagement with TVK.
The DMK, meanwhile, has taken note of these developments. Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s recent remark about the Congress’s “hand leaving” appeared to hint at unease within the alliance.
(Source: India Today)
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