Tamil Nadu CM Vijay to Chair TVK Alliance Meeting Amid Congress Rift, Left Boycott

Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to chair a crucial alliance coordination meeting of the TVK-led coalition in Chennai, with discussions expected to focus on strengthening the structure and future roadmap of the ruling alliance.

The meeting comes at a politically sensitive time, with tensions emerging between the TVK and the Congress over calls projecting Vijay as a possible prime ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. The CPI(M) and CPI have also decided to boycott the alliance discussions.

The coalition meeting is expected to focus on finalising a common minimum programme, establishing a joint steering committee and developing an official identity for the alliance based on the principles of secularism and social justice.

Several key cabinet partners, including the Congress, Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi, Indian Union Muslim League and Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, are expected to participate in the discussions.

However, the CPI(M) and CPI have chosen to stay away from the meeting, marking their second consecutive boycott of formal alliance talks since July.

The Left parties have indicated that their support for the government will remain issue-based, allowing them to maintain political independence while supporting stability in the Tamil Nadu Assembly.

The CPI(M) has argued that remaining outside a formal alliance structure will allow the Left parties to independently raise concerns regarding government policies, including issues related to labour, agriculture and public affairs.

The alliance meeting is also being held against the backdrop of a public disagreement between the TVK and the Congress over national political leadership.

Some TVK legislators and ministers had projected Chief Minister Vijay as a potential prime ministerial candidate ahead of the 2029 general elections. The remarks triggered a strong response from Congress leaders in Tamil Nadu.

Congress leaders maintained that Rahul Gandhi remained the key leader of the national opposition bloc and warned that attempts to challenge his position could force the party to reconsider its role within the state government.

The TVK leadership later attempted to ease tensions by stating that the remarks supporting a 'Vijay for PM' campaign reflected the personal opinions of individual legislators and were not an official position of the party.

The meeting will be particularly important because the TVK government depends on support from its coalition partners to maintain its narrow majority in the Assembly.

Congress's five MLAs, along with legislators from other alliance partners, play an important role in ensuring the stability of the government.

The alliance coordination meeting is therefore expected to test the coalition's ability to maintain unity while differences over political leadership, future electoral arrangements and government policies continue to emerge.

The discussions could also help shape the alliance's governance agenda and future political strategy as Tamil Nadu's ruling coalition prepares for upcoming local body elections and the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.