The TVK has been in energy for barely 4 months, however it’s already watching its first main alliance check. On the coronary heart of the rising unease amongst its allies is the TVK’s rising “Vijay for Prime Minister” refrain. The latest India Today-CVoter nationwide survey, which positioned Vijay because the third-most most well-liked PM alternative, has solely deepened the friction between the TVK and the Congress. The Congress has considered it as doubtlessly undercutting the opposition’s united bid to mission Rahul Gandhi because the face for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
The ‘Vijay-for-PM’ clamour inside the TVK has solely grown after the Mood of the Nation (MOTN) survey. Over 9% of these surveyed most well-liked Vijay as the subsequent prime minister – a novel feat for somebody who has been a chief minister for simply 100 days. He was solely behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi (48.7%) and Rahul Gandhi (27.1%). Behind Vijay have been veteran leaders like Mamata Banerjee and Arvind Kejriwal, who’ve spent many years navigating the twists and turns of Indian politics.
CONGRESS THREATENS TO QUIT ALLIANCE
The ballot has solely renewed calls for from TVK leaders and ministers for Vijay to be projected because the prime ministerial candidate. ‘Vijay for PM’ posters have additionally mushroomed in areas like Tuticorin, including a contemporary set off to the rising friction.
Vijay himself has not commented on the matter up to now. However in politics, silence can be a strong instrument. However, it has irked the Congress, which up to now had solely brushed apart such statements.
Issues reached a boiling level on August 30 when Congress chief and state minister S Rajesh Kumar threatened to quit the alliance if the TVK didn’t again Rahul within the 2029 normal elections. Talking at an occasion in Kanyakumari, Kumar mentioned each the Congress ministers would resign if the TVK failed to vary its stance.
“If by any probability TVK would not agree, the 2 ministers of Congress won’t proceed in our positions,” Kumar, who’s the Tamil Nadu tourism minister, mentioned. The opposite Congress minister in Vijay’s Cupboard is P Viswanathan.
CONGRESS MLA’S SEATING CHANGED
A day after the sharp remarks by Kumar, the seating of the Congress legislature celebration chief, Tharahai Cuthbert, was modified within the Meeting.
On Monday, Cuthbert, the MLA from Colachel, was shifted to the entrance row of the opposition benches within the Meeting, ANI reported. She was beforehand seated within the part allotted to TVK MLAs.
As hypothesis of a TVK-Congress rift gained floor, Tamil Nadu Congress president and MP Manickam Tagore met Vijay on the secretariat on Monday night. Either side have remained tight-lipped on what was mentioned within the assembly.
Nevertheless, Cuthbert has sought to downplay the speculation, stressing that each Vijay and Rahul Gandhi share rapport. Chatting with reporters on Tuesday, she underlined that the Vijay-for-PM name in some quarters was pushed largely by the passion of TVK staff, and didn’t symbolize the celebration management’s official place.
She additionally didn’t connect any political motive to the change in her seating place, describing it as routine.
HOW THE NUMBERS STACK UP?
The political stakes are excessive for the TVK authorities, which has a slim majority within the Meeting. Whereas Vijay’s TVK emerged because the single-largest celebration within the Tamil Nadu polls, it fell 11 in need of the 118 majority mark.
After weeks of back-and-forth, the TVK finally shaped the federal government with the backing of Congress (5 MLAs), VCK (2), IUML (2), and outdoors assist from the Left events (4). Later, the MDMK, which has two MLAs, additionally backed the TVK.
Presently, there are seven vacancies within the 234-member Meeting, after the resignation of six AIADMK MLAs and Vijay vacating the Trichy East seat. This has introduced the present meeting energy all the way down to 227, and the bulk mark to 114.
If the Congress decides to withdraw assist, it could not instantly deliver down the Vijay authorities, nevertheless it might go away it teetering on the brink.
Even different TVK allies like MDMK have pushed again towards such strategies, underlining that Rahul Gandhi was the “solely alternative” because the INDIA bloc’s PM candidate. MDMK chief Vaiko additionally urged Vijay to rein in his ministers.
Sensing the unease inside the alliance, the BJP has questioned why the Congress was not withdrawing assist to the TVK authorities even after the “insult” to Rahul Gandhi.
“What’s stopping the opportunistic Congress from popping out of the Cupboard? As a result of statements by TVK ministers are a scathing vote of no confidence,” BJP nationwide spokesperson CR Kesavan instructed ANI.
VIJAY FOR PM CHORUS GROWS
Even earlier than the MOTN survey, TVK ministers had already been floating the concept that the subsequent prime minister must be from a southern state.
“Presently, a scenario exists the place simply 5 – 6 Hindi-speaking northern states come collectively, they usually decide the prime minister,” TVK minister Aadhav Arjuna mentioned final month.
The Vijay-for-PM pitch additionally reached the Meeting. Praising Vijay’s work ethic, minister D Sarathkumar declared him the “subsequent Indian PM”.
“Our chief… is the subsequent Indian PM. You’re employed with out AM or PM; you might be undoubtedly the subsequent PM,” he mentioned.
Even earlier than him, senior TVK chief and minister KA Sengottaiyan asserted that Vijay had the “energy to rule whole India”.
“I’ve travelled with MGR and Jayalalithaa… Vijay is the pressure who won’t solely rule Tamil Nadu but additionally the long run India,” Sengottaiyan mentioned whereas itemizing the 100-day achievements of the TVK authorities.
However, this is a actuality examine. Presently, Vijay-for-PM appears a far cry. He has a lot to show as a chief minister earlier than taking a leap to nationwide politics.
Nevertheless, the actor-turned-politician has earned his personal admirers together with his robust discuss on corruption, willingness to right errors, and work ethic. His detractors have pointed to his U-turns on delimitation and politics of vendetta, just like the arrest of Chief of Opposition Udhayanidhi Stalin, to assault his decision-making talents.
The timing can be fascinating, because the TVK is seeking to develop its footprint past Tamil Nadu. Final week, Malayalam actor and politician S Devan resigned as Kerala BJP vice-president and is more likely to be part of the TVK. Whereas there was no formal announcement, Devan has possible been provided the publish of TVK’s Kerala state president.
General, the ‘Vijay-for-PM’ refrain seems untimely. The subsequent Lok Sabha election is three years away. Vijay has been the chief minister for less than slightly over 100 days.
The important thing query, nevertheless, is whether or not the TVK is merely testing the waters or critically weighing the prospect of projecting Vijay as a nationwide chief.
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