Rahul Gandhi vs Vijay? Congress Makes Its 2029 PM Face Clear

Congress leader K C Venugopal on Sunday said Rahul Gandhi will lead the INDIA bloc in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections, seeking to put an end to speculation over Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) chief and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay being projected as the opposition alliance’s prime ministerial candidate.

Responding to questions about reports of Vijay being projected for the top post, Venugopal said the TVK had made no such demand and urged against creating confusion within the opposition alliance.

“Rahul Gandhi will be the face of the INDIA alliance,” Venugopal said.

The Congress general secretary said Gandhi’s political campaigns on issues concerning students, farmers and the youth had attracted attention across the country. He asserted that Gandhi had emerged as a prominent opposition voice whose decisions and political actions were being closely followed.

Asked specifically whether Gandhi would lead the INDIA bloc in the 2029 elections, Venugopal replied in the affirmative, describing him as a leader with significant public support.

Venugopal also maintained that the INDIA alliance remained strong, despite differences among its constituent parties in some states where they compete against one another. He said such differences would be resolved and insisted that the broader alliance was continuing to move forward.

Taking aim at the CPI(M) in Kerala, Venugopal alleged that the party had failed to learn from its mistakes and accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of preventing it from doing so.

He also criticised the BJP-led government at the Centre, accusing it of pushing the country towards a “dark age.” Referring to the student protest at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi and the subsequent police action, Venugopal alleged that the Centre was continuing to justify the crackdown.

He further cited the alleged “purification” of a stage after Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge addressed a gathering in Haldwani, Uttarakhand, saying such incidents reflected a troubling political atmosphere.

Venugopal said a strong fight against what he described as growing intolerance was necessary, and asserted that the opposition alliance would continue its efforts in that direction.