TVK allotting the lone Rajya Sabha seat to Congress and the politics behind it

Tamil Nadu’s ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) announced on Wednesday that it would allot its lone Rajya Sabha seat to its alliance partner, the Congress. The decision was made by TVK leader C.Joseph Vijay following a meeting with All India Congress Committee’s Tamil Nadu in-charge Girish Chodankar at the state secretariat. The agreement reflects a strategic realignment, as the TVK, despite winning 108 assembly seats in the recent elections, fell short of a majority by 10 seats. This deficit made Congress’s five legislative wins critical in forming the government, granting it significant bargaining power. The Congress, which had previously relied on the DMK for two Rajya Sabha seats, now holds three from Tamil Nadu, including the newly allocated seat. Pr Praveen Chakravarty, a key aide to Rahul Gandhi, is the frontrunner for the newly allotted seat and played a pivotal role in negotiating the deal. His efforts to cultivate a relationship with Vijay before the elections helped Congress secure this political advantage, particularly after the DMK blocked his Lok Sabha bid in 2024. The alliance has also elevated Congress’s status in Tamil Nadu, ending its historical dependence on Dravidian parties. The party now holds two cabinet positions in the state and has secured a guaranteed alliance for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. This shift marks a significant political victory, transforming Congress from a junior partner into a key player in the region.