Tamil Nadu Minister's Bold Ultimatum: Will Congress Back Rahul Gandhi for PM?

Political Tensions Rise in Tamil Nadu

Nagercoil: In a striking declaration, Tamil Nadu Minister S Rajesh Kumar has announced that two Congress ministers will step down from their roles in the state Cabinet unless their coalition partner, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), supports Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the upcoming 2029 parliamentary elections. Kumar firmly believes that Gandhi is destined to be India's next Prime Minister.

As the call for support grows among ministers, MLAs, and members of the ruling TVK, there is a push to position Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as a potential Prime Ministerial candidate for the next Lok Sabha elections. Kumar stated that he and his colleague, P Vishwanathan, the Higher Education Minister, are ready to resign if the TVK does not align with Congress on this matter.

Following the Congress's decision to support the Vijay-led TVK in forming the government back in May, the party secured a position in the Cabinet.

Expressing his discontent at an event in Kanyakumari on Sunday, Kumar emphasized that the Congress party will not waver from its position, insisting that Rahul Gandhi is the sole candidate they will endorse in the Lok Sabha elections.

While Vishwanathan was unavailable for immediate comments, Kumar's remarks could potentially strain the relationship between Congress and TVK.