Congress will invite TVK to INDIA bloc after it wins MPs: Manickam Tagore

Congress leader Manickam Tagore on Sunday said the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) could be invited to join the INDIA bloc if it secures representation in Parliament, indicating that the Congress is keeping the door open for cooperation with actor-turned-politician C. Joseph Vijay’s party.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Tagore said the Opposition alliance was essentially a coalition of parties with representation in Parliament. Since the TVK currently has no MPs, he said, there was no question of formally inviting it into the bloc at this stage.

“The TVK currently has no MPs. When the party wins parliamentary seats, we will ask it to join the INDIA bloc,” Tagore said, adding that the Congress would consider its inclusion once it has representation in Parliament.

Tagore also referred to political developments following the Tamil Nadu assembly election, claiming that the TVK emerged as the largest party after winning 106 seats.

He said Vijay’s first call after the election results was to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and alleged that the TVK chief sought Gandhi’s support to form the government and become chief minister.

According to Tagore, the Congress was also the first party to submit a letter extending support to a TVK-led government.

“The Congress was the first party to submit a letter extending support to the TVK government,” he said, claiming that ministers in the government were aware of the Congress’s role in its formation.

Tagore further alleged that Congress support had prevented the BJP from attempting to engineer an alternative government in the state. He claimed that, without Congress backing, Union Home Minister Amit Shah could have attempted to destabilise the TVK and install AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K. Palaniswami as chief minister.

“Otherwise, Amit Shah would have finished the TVK’s political story by now,” Tagore alleged, suggesting that the party could have been split and an alternative government installed.

Asked about Vijay’s limited public comments on national politics and possible alliances, Tagore said the TVK leader generally speaks only when necessary.

“Let the election come first. Vijay generally speaks very little, but when the time comes for him to express his position, he will speak clearly and appropriately,” he said.

Vijay launched the TVK as a political party with an eye on Tamil Nadu’s electoral landscape, and the Congress leader’s remarks could add to speculation over possible cooperation between the two parties.

For now, however, Tagore made clear that any formal move to bring the TVK into the INDIA bloc would depend on the party first winning seats in Parliament. His comments nevertheless signal that the Congress remains open to future engagement with Vijay’s party as alliances take shape ahead of upcoming elections.

With IANS inputs