Congress legislators, functionaries want coalition government in Tamil Nadu: S. Rajeshkumar

Tamil Nadu Congress Legislative Party Leader and Killiyoor MLA S. Rajeshkumar has said the party’s MLAs and functionaries would urge the All India Congress Committee leadership to push for a coalition government in Tamil Nadu and seek more seats as a part of the DMK alliance in the 2026 Assembly election. In 2021, the party was allotted 25 seats in the DMK-led alliance.

On being asked whether the Congress would explore aligning with the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, founded by actor Vijay, who has stated that he was open to sharing power with allies, in the event of the DMK rejecting its (Congress) demand, Mr. Rajeshkumar said: “Mr. Vijay is speaking on issues that our leader Rahul Gandhi has also been highlighting. In that sense, we welcome it. However, the DMK and the Congress are firmly in the INDIA bloc and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin is leading the bloc in Tamil Nadu.”

Mr. Rajeshkumar told The Hindu the MLAs had strongly stated their desire to be a part of the State government in 2026. “We will insist that the Congress party is allotted more number of seats in Tamil Nadu as a part of the INDIA bloc. If the Congress has to grow in Tamil Nadu, we need to be a part of the government, so that we can make a difference in the lives of the people directly,” he said.

According to the MLA, the Congress has managed to keep itself a “vibrant party” in Tamil Nadu despite having been out of power in the State for nearly 58 years. Nonetheless, staying in the Opposition benches has meant it has significantly diminished its opportunities to have more “meaningful interactions” with the people.

“A party that is not in power has fewer opportunities to grow. Even in such a situation, the Congress continues to enjoy a certain goodwill in Tamil Nadu,” he said. “In Assembly and Lok Sabha elections, Tamil Nadu voters have supported the alliance that the Congress is a part of,” he said.

“The people of Tamil Nadu like the leadership of Rahul Gandhi. INDIA bloc achieved tremendous victories in the 2019 Lok Sabha election, the 2021 Assembly poll, and the 2024 Lok Sabha election due to the joint campaign of our leader, Rahul Gandhi, and Mr. Stalin. The people of Tamil Nadu support the INDIA bloc, and it is certain that it will win the upcoming election as well,” Mr. Rajeshkumar said.