Congress MLAs to pull out of Vijay Government in TN it if doesn't accept Rahul Gandhi as PM candidate?

A fresh political clash has erupted in Tamil Nadu over the prospective Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. State Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar issued a firm ultimatum, warning that Congress ministers would immediately withdraw from the state government if the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) opposes Rahul Gandhi as the coalition's candidate for the top post.

The rift deepened following repeated assertions from TVK ministers claiming that party chief C Joseph Vijay is slated to be the nation's next Prime Minister. Rebutting these claims, Rajesh emphasized that the Congress has maintained a firm, unwavering position: Rahul Gandhi will lead the government at the Centre if the party and its allies secure victory in 2029.

This political standoff exposes growing ideological friction between regional leadership ambitions and national strategy. By setting a clear boundary over the prime ministerial nomination, Congress has signaled that alignment on national leadership is non-negotiable.