With the elections behind us, the perceived impactful debut of actor C. Joseph Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), based on reports from the workers of various parties, in urban centres has become a talking point in certain sections of the Congress. Its leaders had considered forming an alliance with Mr. Vijay before staying put in the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance.

Many have said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who did not share the stage with Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and was widely believed to have favoured an alliance with the TVK, had assessed the situation accurately when he saw an opportunity to rejuvenate the Congress in Tamil Nadu.