Chennai, Aug 2026 : Tamil Nadu Tourism Minister S. Rajesh Kumar has warned that he and fellow Congress minister P. Viswanathan could resign from the state Cabinet if the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) continues to project party chief and Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay as a potential Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
Rajesh Kumar issued the warning while addressing a Congress party meeting at Marthandam in Kanniyakumari district on Sunday night. He said both Congress ministers would immediately step down and withdraw from the state Cabinet if the TVK does not accept Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 parliamentary elections.
“If Mr. Rahul Gandhi is not accepted by the TVK as the Prime Minister candidate of the 2029 Parliamentary election, both the Congress Ministers in the Tamil Nadu Government will immediately resign their posts and pull out from the Cabinet,” Rajesh Kumar said.
His remarks have brought the issue of national leadership to the forefront of political discussions in Tamil Nadu, where differences have reportedly emerged over the projection of Vijay as a potential national leader.
TVK leaders have in recent weeks indicated support for Vijay's possible emergence as a contender for the Prime Minister's post in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The position has put the party at odds with sections of the Congress leadership, which continues to advocate Rahul Gandhi as its preferred candidate for the top constitutional political office.
Congress minister P. Viswanathan had earlier asserted that Rahul Gandhi was the choice of the INDIA bloc for the 2029 Prime Ministerial race. He also rejected suggestions that Vijay could be projected as an alternative candidate from Tamil Nadu.
Rajesh Kumar's latest statement signals that the Congress may be prepared to take a stronger position on the issue, including reconsidering its participation in the Vijay-led state government if its demand regarding Rahul Gandhi is not accepted.
The warning also highlights the potential challenges facing the ruling alliance as political preparations gradually intensify ahead of the 2029 general elections. While the election is still some distance away, discussions over leadership, alliances and possible Prime Ministerial candidates are already beginning to shape political strategies.
For the Congress, Rahul Gandhi's leadership remains a central issue as the party seeks to consolidate opposition forces at the national level. For TVK, meanwhile, Vijay's popularity and political appeal could form the basis of its strategy to expand beyond Tamil Nadu and establish itself as a significant force in national politics.
The disagreement could therefore have implications beyond the immediate question of Cabinet participation. It may also influence the broader political equations among parties seeking to shape the electoral landscape in Tamil Nadu and nationally.
For now, Rajesh Kumar's warning has added a new dimension to the growing debate over who could lead the political opposition in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, with the Congress making it clear that Rahul Gandhi's candidature remains a key priority.
