What if Vijay had joined in 2009, Congress wonders

NEW DELHI: As TVK chief Vijay moves to govern Tamil Nadu after upending the state's politics in the assembly polls, questions are being asked if Congress' fortunes in the state would have taken a giant leap had the superstar's interaction with Rahul Gandhi during UPA's tenure materialised into something concrete.

The questions have acquired salience after the surfacing of an old photograph of Vijay with then NSUI office-bearers - now MP Hibi Eden, AICC spokesperson Ragini Nayak, AICC secretary Gopinath Palaniyappan and Ashok Basoya. Vijay had then met Rahul, who, fresh from Congress' victory in the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, was aiming at a generational makeover of the party.

By his own admission in a viral video, Vijay had taken a day off from his shoot schedule to meet Rahul with his father. He was thrilled by the interaction but denied any move to join Congress.

Some in Congress say Vijay was asked by Rahul to go through the drill of contesting Youth Congress elections, which the former was reluctant to do. The lingering regret in Congress ranks seems to be that if Vijay had joined the party, Congress could have been at the core of Tamil Nadu politics today.

If not then, now. The partnership is happening 17 years later. Since their first meeting, Rahul and Vijay have been in touch - the reason there was such a push to ally with TVK in the run-up to state polls, which was nixed by Congress leadership and the state unit.

But after the polls threw up a hung assembly and DMK was left without the possibility of forming govt, Congress decided to join hands with TVK. Congress' outreach with CPM, CPI and VCK is said to have played a role in the three parties following suit.

When Rahul attends Vijay's oath-taking ceremony in Chennai on Sunday, it would mark the culmination of what was initiated years ago.