New Delhi: A fresh political dispute has emerged in Tamil Nadu between the Congress and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) over who should be projected as the alliance’s prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

Tourism Minister and Congress leader S Rajesh Kumar has said that he and Higher Education Minister P Viswanathan are prepared to resign from the Tamil Nadu Cabinet if TVK does not support Congress leader Rahul Gandhi as the alliance’s prime ministerial candidate.

Congress Asks TVK to Clarify Its Stand

Rajesh Kumar made the remarks while speaking at the assumption-of-office ceremony of George Robinson, who took charge as the president of the Kanyakumari West District Congress Committee.

He urged TVK to make its position clear on the prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 general elections.

‘Ready to Resign’

The Congress leader said that if the alliance partner does not support Rahul Gandhi on the issue, he and P Viswanathan would be ready to step down from their ministerial positions.

The statement comes at a time when several TVK ministers, legislators and party members are reportedly demanding that party chief C Joseph Vijay be projected as the prime ministerial candidate for the next Lok Sabha elections.

Tension Within the Alliance

The issue could further strain relations between the Congress and TVK, which currently share power in Tamil Nadu.

With both parties facing competing demands over the prime ministerial candidate, the alliance may have to address the issue well ahead of the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.