Published Nov 14, 2026 | 11:06 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 14, 2026 | 11:06 PM
C Joseph Vijay
Synopsis: Former Tamil Nadu Congress president KV Thangkabalu claims he recommended offering Vijay the Youth Congress president’s post, a Rajya Sabha seat, and even his own state president position when the actor met Rahul Gandhi in 2009. Rejecting Manickam Tagore’s claim that Congress leaders blocked Vijay’s entry into the party, Thangkabalu says both Vijay and the Congress wanted an alliance, but circumstances prevented it.
Former Tamil Nadu Congress president KV Thangkabalu has claimed he recommended offering actor-turned-Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay the post of Tamil Nadu Youth Congress president, a Rajya Sabha seat, and even his own position as state Congress chief when Vijay met Rahul Gandhi in 2009.
Speaking to South First, Thangkabalu also said B Manickam Tagore’s recent remarks that Congress leaders prevented Vijay from joining the party were incorrect.
The controversy erupted after Tamil Nadu Congress president Tagore, speaking at a meeting on Friday, 13 November, said, “Vijay wanted to join Congress long ago, but our unfortunate leaders prevented him from doing so.”
His remarks triggered criticism from several Congress leaders, including former Tamil Nadu Congress president K Selvaperunthagai.
In August 2009, Vijay, accompanied by his father SA Chandrasekar, met Rahul Gandhi in Delhi. Political circles at the time speculated that the meeting was primarily about Vijay’s interest in entering politics.
Former Tamil Nadu Congress president KV Thangkabalu.
Recalling the meeting, Thangkabalu said he had personally recommended Vijay for the Youth Congress president’s post.
“When Vijay met Rahul Gandhi in 2009, I was the one who recommended that he be given the Youth Congress president’s post. We went a step further and even discussed giving him a Rajya Sabha seat. I also told the national leadership that I was willing to give up my position as Tamil Nadu Congress president for him,” Thangkabalu said.
Sonia Gandhi was then the Congress national president.
Thangkabalu further revealed that Chandrasekar had personally visited his residence and held discussions with him. The Congress leader said Vijay was keen on joining the Congress, and the party leadership was equally enthusiastic about bringing him on board.
However, he said the proposal did not materialise because of various political circumstances at the time.
“It is not right to rewrite history,” Thangkabalu said, dismissing Tagore’s version of events.
Thangkabalu also claimed that he had advocated an electoral alliance between the Congress and Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) even before the elections.
He said he proposed at a meeting attended by senior Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, KC Venugopal and Mallikarjun Kharge, before the Tamil Nadu Assembly election in 2026.
“I told them that an alliance with the DMK would weaken us in Tamil Nadu. Instead, contesting the elections in an alliance with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam would revive the Congress,” Thangkabalu said.
Meanwhile, Tagore’s remarks suggesting that Congress leaders had prevented Vijay from joining the party continue to draw criticism from within the party.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
