Chennai: Posters projecting Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief C. Joseph Vijay, as the country's "future Prime Minister", has triggered a political row in Tamil Nadu, with Congress leaders, despite being allies of the party, openly questioning the actor-turned-politician's growing national ambitions.
The posters appeared in Thoothukudi, portraying Vijay as a prospective prime ministerial candidate. They were put up by Sudhakar, a local leader who recently switched from the AIADMK to TVK. The campaign followed support from Tamil Nadu Sports Minister Aadhav Arjuna for projecting Vijay as a candidate for the top national post.
Arjuna, who backed a resolution opposing delimitation, had called for an end to what he described as northern dominance in national politics. He argued that the Prime Minister should emerge from South India, particularly Tamil Nadu, rather than being determined by a handful of northern states.
Other TVK leaders have also amplified Vijay's national stature. Senior leader K.A. Sengottaiyan claimed that people in northern states, too, see Vijay as capable of leading the country, while Minister D. Sarathkumar described him as the next Prime Minister. TVK MLA Kallanai also expressed hope that Vijay would eventually hoist the national flag at the Red Fort.
Congress, however, has reacted sharply to the campaign. TNCC president and MP B. Manickam Tagore mocked TVK leaders for continuing to operate with a fan-club mentality. Congress MP Karti Chidambaram stressed that becoming Prime Minister requires the support of 272 MPs, while P. Jothimani said the INDIA bloc's prime ministerial face is Rahul Gandhi and urged TVK to concentrate on Tamil Nadu politics.
Congress was among the first allies to support TVK when it came to power, holding 108 Assembly seats, and party leaders also recalled that Vijay called Rahul Gandhi immediately after the election results.