An apparent tussle over the 2029 Prime Ministerial face is emerging between Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and its ally Congress, with TVK leaders repeatedly projecting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay as a future Prime Minister while Congress continues to insist on Rahul Gandhi.
The issue has gained traction in recent weeks, with TVK MLAs and Ministers publicly praising Vijay and suggesting that he could become the Prime Minister after the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
This comes despite TVK heading a coalition government in Tamil Nadu without having a single Member of Parliament of its own.
On 2 September 2026, TVK Kavundampalayam MLA Kanimozhi told journalists outside the Tamil Nadu Assembly that Vijay would be the party’s Prime Ministerial candidate in 2029.
“2025 also same thing happened… but everyone saw what happened in the 2026 Tamil Nadu polls.. In 2029, Delhi will not decide who will be the PM, it will be decided in Tamil Nadu. This surprising and massive development in Indian politics will be witnessed in 2029. In 2029, we will see whether Congress will be outside or inside. Just like how Rahul Gandhi seated Vijay on CM’s seat, Rahul Gandhi will seat Vijay on the PM’s seat,” she said.
“2029 பிரதமர் வேட்பாளர் நம்ம தளபதி விஜய் தான்.. ராகுல் காந்தி தான் நம்ம தலைவர் கைய பிடிச்சு கூட்டிட்டு போய் பிரதமர் சீட்ல உட்கார வெக்க போறாரு…” த.வெ.க எம்.எல்.ஏ கனிமொழி#TNAssembly | #AssemblySession | #TVKMLA | #MLAKanimozhi | #PolimerNews pic.twitter.com/4D6LS1oBt1
— Polimer News (@polimernews) September 2, 2026
The remarks come amid repeated assertions from Congress leaders that Rahul Gandhi remains their Prime Ministerial face for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Congress leader Mohan Kumaramangalam appeared to take a swipe at the growing speculation over Vijay’s projection as a national leader. In a post on X, he wrote, “Some wished for Arvind Kejriwal to be PM. Others wished for Mamata Banerjee to be PM. Then there were others who wished for Nitish Kumar to be PM…
All multiple time CMs who showed up with favourability ratings of single digits at different points of time in India Today’s MOTN.
Be careful what you wish for…”
Some wished for Arvind Kejriwal to be PM. Others wished for Mamata Banerjee to be PM. Then there were others who wished for Nitish Kumar to be PM…
All multiple time CMs who showed up with favourability ratings of single digits at different points of time in India Today’s MOTN.…
— Mohan மோகன் Kumaramangalam (@MKumaramangalam) September 2, 2026
The Congress position was also reiterated by Tourism Minister and Congress MLA Rajesh Kumar at a Congress party event in Kanyakumari over the weekend.
Speaking about the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, Rajesh Kumar said, “In the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, our leader Rahul Gandhi will be elected as the Prime Minister… If TVK does not accept this, the two Congress Ministers in Tamil Nadu will not continue in these roles. Congress party means everything to us. Without Congress party, I am nothing… the Congress movement is everything.. If the Congress wants us to resign tomorrow, we will resign the next moment. Every party can have their own stance and policies. For everyone of us in the Congress, Rahul Gandhi is our face.”
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