Congress Rejects Vijay’s Prime Ministerial Bid in Favor of Rahul Gandhi

Cuthbert’s comments underscore a deepening rift between the two allies. While TVK leaders, including PWD Minister Aadhav Arjuna, have openly championed the idea of a Tamil Nadu-based leader occupying the country's highest office, Congress remains unmoved. The tension reflects broader friction, recently highlighted when Congress Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar threatened that his party would withdraw support from the current administration if the TVK failed to back Rahul Gandhi’s candidacy.

Adding to the political friction, BJP spokesperson CR Kesavan has publicly challenged Congress, questioning why the party continues to prop up a government whose leadership actively promotes a rival candidate for the national stage. This uncertainty has manifested physically within the state assembly; on August 31, Cuthbert was relocated from the TVK-aligned section to the front row of the Opposition benches, a move signaling a cooling of the coalition’s ties. Congress entered this current arrangement after abandoning its long-standing alliance with the DMK in 2026, setting a condition that their support for the TVK-led government remains contingent on keeping communal forces at bay.