Chennai, Aug. 31 -- A fresh disagreement has emerged within Tamil Nadu's ruling alliance after a Congress minister warned that the party's two ministers would resign from the state cabinet if the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) does not support Rahul Gandhi as the prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister S Rajesh Kumar made the statement at an event in Kanyakumari on Sunday. He said Congress was firm in its position that Rahul Gandhi would be its choice for prime minister after the 2029 elections and that the party would not compromise on the issue. Kumar said that if TVK did not agree with the Congress position, he and the party's other minister in the state cabinet, P Vishwanathan, would not continue in their posts. The warning comes amid growing calls within TVK to project its leader and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. TVK leaders have recently spoken in favour of Vijay taking on a larger national role. The campaign gained further attention after posters supporting a "Vijay for PM" pitch appeared in parts of Tamil Nadu.

The Congress and TVK are currently part of the ruling alliance in Tamil Nadu. After the 2026 assembly elections, TVK formed the government with the support of Congress, VCK, IUML, CPI and CPI(M). Congress has two ministers in the cabinet. The developments have raised questions over the future of the alliance, particularly as both sides appear to have different positions on who should lead the opposition's national campaign in 2029. Congress' stand has also received support from MDMK leader Vaiko, another ally of Vijay. Vaiko said Congress, as the head of the INDIA bloc at the national level, could project only Rahul Gandhi as its prime ministerial candidate. He also said he did not believe Vijay himself was seeking the top post and urged TVK ministers to avoid making statements that could complicate the alliance.

TVK has so far not offered a detailed response to the Congress minister's warning.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.