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

Congress MP Manickam Tagore has said the party will invite actor-politician Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) into the INDIA opposition bloc only after it wins seats in Parliament. National Herald India reports Tagore said that the Congress was the first party to extend support to the TVK government and that its backing prevented the BJP from engineering an alternative government in Tamil Nadu. He alleged that without Congress support, Union Home Minister Amit Shah would have 'finished the TVK's political story' and installed AIADMK's Edappadi Palaniswami as chief minister.

Tagore criticised TVK leaders who have proposed Vijay for Prime Minister, accusing them of operating in 'fan-club mode' and treating him as a superstar rather than a political leader, Times Now reports. He said the Congress is focused on fighting the BJP nationally and on a delimitation exercise that could shift parliamentary representation. AIADMK spokesperson Kovai Sathyan countered that Congress is trying to 'ride on TVK's shoulder' and that the first signs of friction between the two parties have appeared.

Tagore left the door open for future cooperation, stating that Vijay speaks little but will 'speak clearly and appropriately' when the time comes. TVK currently holds no Lok Sabha seats, making formal alliance membership impossible under INDIA bloc rules. The party's entry will depend on winning MPs in the next general election.