In Tamil Nadu, political speculation is brewing after actor Vijay’s father, SA Chandrasekhar, extended an alliance invitation to the Congress to join hands with his son’s party, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), aiming to restore the party’s past political glory in the state. Chandrasekhar, speaking to reporters in Tiruvarur district after a wedding ceremony, said that TVK was considering an offer of support and urged Congress to seize the opportunity.
“Congress has a history and a legacy… Vijay is ready to give them support and get them back to their old glory. Now it is up to the Congress to take this opportunity,” Chandrasekhar said, highlighting what he described as the party’s struggle for political relevance in the state. However, neither TVK nor Vijay has confirmed or denied the offer.
The Congress, however, quickly responded. State chief K. Selvaperunthagai dismissed the idea of seeking external support, stating that the party already receives a morale boost from its national leader, Rahul Gandhi. “Look at our cadres… they already have a boost from Rahul Gandhi, the ‘Boost, Horlicks, and Bournvita’ we need,” he said, humorously referring to energy drink metaphors.
Despite this, speculation persists that the Congress may consider the TVK alliance, especially if its current partner, the ruling DMK, refuses to share power after a potential fourth consecutive election victory. Internal demands within the Congress for ministerial positions are rising, with sources revealing the party seeks at least six cabinet berths and a larger share of seats in the upcoming assembly elections.
Negotiations between Congress and DMK are ongoing, with a seat-sharing deadlock Congress wants 35 of 234 seats, while DMK offers only 19. Political observers suggest that, though unlikely, a Congress-TVK tie-up cannot be entirely ruled out, adding another layer of intrigue to Tamil Nadu’s rapidly approaching elections.
