'Vijay for PM' campaign strains TVK-Congress alliance in Tamil Nadu
Synopsis
Months into their coalition government in Tamil Nadu, the TVK-Congress alliance is showing its first serious fault line: a grassroots 'Vijay for PM' campaign that a television survey placed at 9 per cent national support has rattled Congress, which had carefully positioned Rahul Gandhi as the alliance's national face — and now finds that strategy publicly complicated by its own partner's supporters.
Key Takeaways
A campaign projecting Tamil Nadu CM C Joseph Vijay as a prime ministerial candidate has triggered friction within the TVK-Congress coalition.
A television channel survey placed Vijay third among potential PM choices with 9 per cent support, behind Rahul Gandhi .
TNCC president Manickam Tagore criticised ministers for displaying a 'fan mentality' in their public conduct.
Congress MP Jothimani called the Vijay PM projection an election strategy, asserting Rahul Gandhi remained unmatched against the Modi government.
State Minister Nirmal Kumar said Vijay would take decisions based on the political situation and that the matter did not need discussion now.
Congress had exited its alliance with the DMK — which had backed Rahul Gandhi for PM — before joining hands with TVK.
Tensions have emerged between Tamil Nadu's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) and its coalition partner, the Indian National Congress, over a grassroots campaign projecting Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a prime ministerial candidate, according to party sources. The friction has surfaced just months after the TVK-Congress coalition assumed office in Tamil Nadu, raising questions about the alliance's national messaging and political cohesion.
How the Campaign Began
The controversy took shape inside the Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly, where TVK legislators and ministers repeatedly praised Vijay in effusive terms. The momentum soon spilled onto the streets, with posters depicting Vijay as a prime ministerial contender appearing in public spaces across the state. Promotional reels carrying the same message have reportedly circulated in northern India — territory where the Congress considers itself the primary opposition force to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Survey Finding Adds to Congress Discomfort
The campaign gained wider attention after a television channel published a survey placing Vijay third among potential prime ministerial choices nationally, with 9 per cent support — behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. According to party sources, the finding deepened unease within Congress ranks. Leaders were reportedly unhappy that a regional chief minister, only recently sworn in, was being positioned for the country's top post.
Congress Leaders Push Back
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president Manickam Tagore had already drawn attention to the issue by criticising certain ministers for what he described as a 'fan mentality' in their public conduct. Congress MP Jothimani more directly addressed the controversy, characterising Vijay's prime ministerial projection as an election strategy while asserting that Rahul Gandhi remained 'unmatched' in confronting the Narendra Modi-led government.
TVK's Response
State Minister Nirmal Kumar, responding to questions on the matter in Madurai on Saturday, said people across India held aspirations for Vijay. He added that the chief minister would take decisions based on prevailing political conditions and maintained that the issue did not warrant discussion at this stage. The campaign is believed to be driven by a section of TVK supporters seeking to impress the party leadership, rather than a formal directive from the top.
Why the Alliance Calculus Is Complicated
The situation carries particular sensitivity for Congress because the party severed its earlier alliance with the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) — which had backed Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial choice — before aligning with TVK. Congress had reportedly planned to deploy Vijay's regional popularity to strengthen the coalition's footprint across southern India, while projecting Rahul Gandhi as the alliance's national face. The competing projection of Vijay has complicated that strategy and prompted wider questions about the coalition's future direction and leadership priorities.
Point of View
But cannot afford a parallel PM narrative that dilutes Rahul Gandhi's national positioning. What makes this harder to manage is that the campaign appears organic — driven by supporters rather than party machinery — which means TVK leadership can distance itself without actually shutting it down. Congress, meanwhile, has already paid a political price by leaving the DMK, which had formally backed Rahul Gandhi for PM. If the 'Vijay for PM' reels keep circulating in the Hindi heartland, Congress will face growing pressure to draw a public red line — a move that risks embarrassing a chief minister it cannot afford to alienate.
NationPress
30 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 'Vijay for PM' campaign in Tamil Nadu?
It is a grassroots campaign by a section of TVK supporters projecting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a prime ministerial candidate. Posters and promotional reels have appeared across Tamil Nadu and reportedly in northern India, drawing pushback from Congress, the TVK's coalition partner.
Why is Congress uncomfortable with the Vijay PM campaign?
Congress had planned to position Rahul Gandhi as the alliance's national face while leveraging Vijay's regional popularity in the south. The competing PM projection undermines that strategy, particularly in northern India where Congress sees itself as the principal opposition to the BJP.
What did the television survey find?
A survey by a television channel placed Vijay third among potential prime ministerial choices with 9 per cent national support, behind Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. The finding reportedly deepened unease within the Congress party.
How have Congress leaders responded?
TNCC president Manickam Tagore criticised ministers for a 'fan mentality.' Congress MP Jothimani called the Vijay PM projection an election strategy while asserting that Rahul Gandhi remained unmatched in taking on the Narendra Modi government.
What did TVK's Nirmal Kumar say about the controversy?
State Minister Nirmal Kumar said people across India had aspirations for Vijay and that the chief minister would take decisions based on the political situation. He maintained that the matter did not require discussion at present.
