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Tagore, who met Vijay earlier this week, said the Congress party stands with him and wants him to become a good Chief Minister.
Neither the TVK headquarters nor Chief Minister Vijay has formally commented on the issue. The TVK has also not officially joined the INDIA bloc, while the Congress is part of the TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu. (Photo: PTI + ANI)
As the TVK pitches its chief C Joseph Vijay as a potential Prime Ministerial face for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore on Thursday said Vijay should instead focus on becoming an “excellent Chief Minister” by ensuring a corruption-free government without commissions.
Tagore, who met Vijay earlier this week, said the Congress stands with him and wants him to become a good Chief Minister.
“Treasurer Venkataraman has clearly stated that such remarks are the individual opinions of those who made them and do not represent the party’s position. As far as we are concerned, the matter ends there. Vijay has received the support of a large number of people. He should strive to become an excellent Chief Minister by ensuring a corruption-free government without commissions,” Tagore said.
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu Food Minister P Venkataramanan said the statements by TVK leaders calling for Vijay to be projected as the Prime Ministerial candidate were not a demand but merely an expression of their wish.
“This is not a demand. It is a wish… Deciding on the Prime Minister candidate will come in 2029. I will see what I think at that time. Right now, it is premature to say anything,” he said.
Earlier, Congress Legislature Party leader Tharahai Cuthbert dismissed the growing “Vijay for PM” campaign among TVK cadres, maintaining that the Congress remains unequivocally committed to Rahul Gandhi as its preferred Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
“There is no confusion within our party or the broader alliance regarding our official position,” Cuthbert told reporters outside the Assembly, describing the pro-Vijay pitch as exuberance from newer legislators.
“The Chief Minister himself has previously acknowledged Rahul Gandhi as the alliance’s intended candidate. Personal projections by individual MLAs do not reflect our agreed leadership strategy,” Cuthbert said.
Neither the TVK headquarters nor Chief Minister Vijay has formally commented on the issue. The TVK has also not officially joined the INDIA bloc, while the Congress is part of the TVK-led government in Tamil Nadu.
“CM Vijay himself has been very clear that Rahul Gandhi is the Prime Minister candidate. So, these new MLAs are still in that ‘fan mindset.’ They will definitely talk about their own leaders. There is no disagreement there. What they did is not wrong. So, you don’t need to give room to any assumptions. It has been clearly stated for the future in 2029. Our leader, the CM, also stated that Rahul Gandhi is the Prime Minister,” Cuthbert said.
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Ask News18The Congress party stands with Vijay and wants him to focus on becoming an excellent, good Chief Minister by delivering a corruption-free government. However, the party rejects the idea of Vijay as a Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, maintaining that its official and unequivocal commitment is to Rahul Gandhi as its preferred candidate.
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Saurabh Verma is a Chief Sub-Editor at News18.com, specializing in Indian politics, national current affairs, and breaking global news. With years of experience tracking power shifts, election strateg…Read More
September 03, 2026, 16:14 IST
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