Congress will quit Vijay Cabinet if Rahul is not accepted as PM candidate, says Minister - The Hindu
Congress warned it will exit the Vijay‑led TVK cabinet unless Rahul Gandhi is accepted as the 2029 PM candidate, heightening tensions in the coalition. A Bloomberg poll still names Modi the top prime‑ministerial choice, making the alliance’s decision pivotal for the opposition’s electoral prospects.
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Congress warned it will exit the Vijay‑led TVK cabinet unless Rahul Gandhi is accepted as the 2029 PM candidate, heightening tensions in the coalition. A Bloomberg poll still names Modi the top prime‑ministerial choice, making the alliance’s decision pivotal for the opposition’s electoral prospects.
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**Congress Minister Threatens to Resign from Vijay‑Led Cabinet Over PM Candidacy**
A senior Congress minister announced on Wednesday that the party will withdraw its participation from the state cabinet headed by Vijay Kumar if the coalition fails to endorse Rahul Gandhi as its prime‑ministerial candidate for the 2029 general election. Speaking to reporters in New Delhi, the minister said the demand reflects “the mandate of our grassroots workers” and warned that “continued exclusion of Rahul Gandhi will force Congress to reconsider its role in any coalition government.” The statement comes amid growing friction between the national Congress leadership and the regional Telangana Vikas Kendra (TVK), which has been promoting Vijay Kumar as a potential prime‑ministerial contender for the next election cycle.
The intra‑alliance dispute unfolds against a backdrop of a Bloomberg‑sponsored survey that still places Prime Minister Narendra Modi as the country’s top choice for the prime‑ministerial post, underscoring the challenge for opposition parties to coalesce around a single alternative. While TVK’s leadership has not ruled out Vijay Kumar’s candidacy, the party’s “Vijay for PM” campaign has sparked unease within Congress ranks, which view Rahul Gandhi as the only figure capable of uniting disparate regional forces against the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party. Sources close to the coalition say negotiations are ongoing, but the Congress minister’s ultimatum has raised the stakes for any compromise.
Political analysts note that the standoff could reshape the pre‑election arithmetic in several key states, particularly Telangana, where TVK enjoys a strong grassroots network. If Congress follows through on its threat, the alliance could fragment, potentially benefiting the BJP, which continues to enjoy broad national support. Conversely, a unified front behind Rahul Gandhi might consolidate anti‑Modi sentiment, although the recent survey suggests that overturning Modi’s popularity will require more than a single candidate’s appeal. The coming weeks are expected to see intense back‑channel talks as both sides weigh the electoral cost of a split versus the strategic necessity of a cohesive opposition.
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