Vijay Could’ve Been A Congress CM: How Rahul Gandhi’s 2009 ‘Mistake’ Just Cost Him Tamil Nadu

Last Updated:May 10, 2026, 11:14 IST

Rahul Gandhi has spoken with Vijay at least thrice, calling him his "brother"—a term he previously used for Stalin.

At the swearing-in ceremony inside Chennai’s Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium, Rahul Gandhi stood smiling beside his ally Vijay as the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief took the oath as Chief Minister.

The moment underscored a relationship rooted in a 2009 encounter when Vijay reportedly sought to join the Congress. According to a report in Hindustan Times, Vijay simply wanted to be a member without any demand for posts or ticket, but Rahul Gandhi’s suggestion that he first contest the Youth Congress elections stalled the move.

In hindsight, Gandhi’s early reluctance appears costly. Had Vijay joined then, he might have been a Congress CM face; instead, the party remained out of power in Tamil Nadu for nearly seven decades. Years later, Vijay’s new outfit, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), has finally ended the decades-long DMK-AIADMK duopoly.

This was not the first time the Congress missed such a pivotal opportunity. Following the death of Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, Jagan Mohan Reddy pushed to become Chief Minister, but the Congress leadership did not yield. Years later, Jagan launched his own party and rose to the CM’s office, while the Congress was pushed to the margins of Andhra Pradesh politics.

A similar pattern emerged in Assam with Himanta Biswa Sarma. Despite Sarma being a heavyweight leader eyeing the top post, Rahul Gandhi chose to stay with Tarun Gogoi. This decision ultimately led to the Congress losing the state for three consecutive elections, while Sarma transformed into a powerhouse and a popular BJP Chief Minister.

However, in Tamil Nadu, the Congress, which initially maintained its alliance with the DMK through the polls, quickly pivoted after MK Stalin-led alliance lost. Moving to correct its “mistake," the party snapped ties with the DMK to forge a long-term pact with the TVK covering all future local, Rajya Sabha, and Lok Sabha elections. In Vijay, the Congress has found a “mega superstar" face in the alliance to charm voters.

Recent signals confirm this thawing relationship. Rahul Gandhi has spoken with Vijay at least thrice, calling him his “brother"—a term he previously used for Stalin. Notably, Rahul Gandhi avoided sharing a stage with Stalin during the poll campaign, a move now interpreted as a strategic outreach to Vijay.

As the political landscape shifts toward the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, the new TVK-Congress partnership has now replaced the DMK-led alliance that swept all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu in the 2024 polls.

While the TVK currently relies on the Congress’s five seats for its majority, reports of a potential split within the AIADMK suggest that Vijay’s government may soon become less dependent on smaller allies.

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