Congress not a ‘slave’ to TVK-led alliance, says party leader in Puducherry

Strongly defending Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc in the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, former Chief Minister and Congress leader V. Narayanasamy on Wednesday (September 2, 2026) said the Congress was no “slave” to the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led alliance headed by Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay.

“Just because we are in alliance with the TVK, we (the Congress party) are not slaves. Mr. Gandhi is the Prime Ministerial candidate of the INDIA bloc,” he said at a press conference when asked about the statements made by certain TVK leaders in support of Mr. Vijay as the PM candidate.

The workers of every political party will speak in favour of their leaders out of enthusiasm. The TVK leaders would like to see their leader as Prime Minister, and such statements need not be given any political colour, as is being done by the DMK and BJP in Tamil Nadu, he said.

“The political situation in the country was changing, and Mr. Vijay himself will endorse Mr. Gandhi as the Prime Minister of the country,” the former Chief Minister said.

Questions Rangasamy on Statehood

Questioning the stand of Puducherry Chief Minister and AINRC founder N. Rangasamy on Statehood, the Congress leader alleged that he was never serious about getting Statehood as he was “only interested in securing his Chief Ministerial position.”

“His party is in alliance with the BJP at the Centre and in Puducherry. If Mr. Rangasamy was serious about Statehood, he should give an ultimatum to the BJP that he would resign if the demand was not met. He would never do that, as he is only interested in the Chief Minister’s chair,” the Congress leader alleged.

Mr. Rangasamy should at least now take an all-party delegation to Delhi to make a strong demand for Statehood, the Congress leader added.