Congress on Vijay PM buzz: 'Need 272 MPs, not just fan dreams'

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram on Monday downplayed speculation that Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay could be projected as a future Prime Minister, stating that the top post requires the support of at least 272 MPs in Parliament.

"To become Prime Minister of India, you need to command the support of 272 MPs. Any formation or any political party which commands the support of 272 MPs, the leader of that formation will be Prime Minister of India. They are a political party which is centered around a very prominent movie star. So they can have their fantasies, dreams, ambitions, wishes for their leader," Chidambaram told reporters in New Delhi.

The Congress leader was responding to reports that supporters of Vijay's party, Tamil Nadu Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), have been projecting the actor-turned-politician for a larger national role. The buzz grew after Vijay attended the 31st meeting of the Southern Zonal Council, chaired by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, in Chengalpet, Tamil Nadu, on October 7.

Vijay, who currently serves as Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, is also the vice-chairman of the Southern Zonal Council, which is one of five such councils set up to promote interstate cooperation. His meeting with Shah on the sidelines of the council was seen as politically significant, though no official details of their discussions were released.

Earlier, Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president and MP Manickam Tagore criticised some state ministers for what he called a "fan club mode" of functioning. His remarks came in response to a statement by TVK minister Jagadeeswari that "today's Chief Minister will be tomorrow's Prime Minister."

"They are still in fan club mode. Those who are in fan club mode cannot be changed," Tagore said at Coimbatore Airport on Saturday.

Vijay, a prominent film star, entered electoral politics with the launch of TVK and has since become a significant force in Tamil Nadu politics. The party's emergence has reshaped the state's political landscape, traditionally dominated by the DMK and AIADMK.

Chidambaram's remarks highlight a key political reality: in India, the prime minister is chosen by the political formation that commands a majority in the Lok Sabha. With 543 elected members in the current Lok Sabha, a party or coalition needs 272 MPs to form the government.

The Congress MP's dismissal of the "fantasies" of TVK supporters reflects the party's assessment that regional leaders, despite their popularity, would need to build broader alliances to have a realistic shot at the top post.

The exchange also underscores the growing political rivalry in Tamil Nadu, where the Congress and TVK have differing positions. While TVK has been expanding its footprint, the Congress is part of the INDIA bloc and is seeking to position itself as a key player in national politics.

No official announcement has been made by TVK regarding Vijay's national ambitions. The projections appear to be coming from enthusiastic supporters and some party leaders, rather than from the party's formal decision-making bodies.