Congress rejects TVK's PM claim for Vijay, says INDIA bloc's face is only Rahul Gandhi

Chennai (The Uttam Hindu): On the occasion of completion of 100 days of the government of Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and his party Tamil Nadu Vetti Kazhagam (TVK) in Tamil Nadu, there has been an earthquake in the politics from state to national level. On this special occasion, Congress has expressed strong objection after TVK leaders projected Vijay as the Prime Ministerial face (Vijay for PM) for the Lok Sabha elections of the year 2029. Congress leaders have sharply attacked this campaign and said that TVK leaders are not working like a responsible political party, but are still working in 'fan club' mode of blind devotees.

Comparisons with MGR and Jayalalithaa, claims of hoisting the tricolor at the Red Fort

At a grand gathering in Tirupur to celebrate the government's 100 days in office, senior TVK leaders declared Vijay as the country's future Prime Minister. TVK's prominent leader, K.A. Sengottaiyya, stated that he had worked with stalwarts like MGR and Jayalalithaa, and that after them, Vijay was the only force capable of ruling not only Tamil Nadu but the entire country. He claimed that the people of North India were also looking towards Vijay with hope. Meanwhile, State Human Resource Management Minister D. Sarathkumar and MLA Kallanai said that Vijay was the country's next Prime Minister and that the day was not far when he would hoist the tricolor at the ramparts of the Red Fort and lead the nation.

Congress strongly countered: "TVK leaders are in fan-club mode, not party mode"

Congress dismissed TVK's claim as completely childish and far from ground reality. Tamil Nadu Congress State President Manickam Tagore B. sharply criticized TVK leaders, saying they still live in a fan-club mentality. He also sarcastically reminded that Vijay himself had contacted Rahul Gandhi to seek support when forming the government.

"272 makes one PM," Karti Chidambaram and Jothimani's blunt remark

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram explained the mathematics of parliamentary politics to TVK, saying that while it's natural for a party to have affection for its leader, the country's leadership is determined by the Constitution and Lok Sabha numbers. He bluntly stated that whoever has the support of 272 MPs out of 543 Lok Sabha seats will become the country's Prime Minister, adding that dreaming in closed party meetings doesn't change reality. Meanwhile, Congress MP P. Jothimani made it clear that the Congress and India alliance will not accept anyone other than Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate in 2029. He advised TVK to focus on good governance in Tamil Nadu instead of jumping into Delhi politics.