00:00So, let's now take a look at the opposition's big prime minister puzzle.
00:05So, first let's talk about Rahul Gandhi, what are his X factors,
00:09why he should be the prime minister face for the opposition, let's understand.
00:14So, he has pan-India political experience,
00:18he has campaigned and worked politically across different parts of the country.
00:22He's an established opposition face because, of course, he's the leader of opposition in Lok Sabha,
00:27he's one of the most recognisable leaders of the entire opposition.
00:32He's the Congress Party's national organisational network,
00:37so the Congress Party has a national organisational network,
00:40so he has access to the Congress Party's nationwide organisational structure.
00:44He has experience in parliament and national issues,
00:47so he has long parliamentary experience and regularly speaks on major national issues.
00:53He has a history of taking on the BJP head-on.
00:57So, he has consistently challenged the BJP and its policies time,
01:00and again, he's seen as passionate Modi critic,
01:04so he's known for strongly criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government as well.
01:10But there's also another factor, he faces Congress internal rifts in some states.
01:15So, Congress faces internal disagreements and factionalism in several states.
01:20Meanwhile, the India bloc is also not unanimous on Rahul Gandhi as the Prime Minister face,
01:24so not all the parties who are a part of the India bloc have agreed to project Rahul Gandhi
01:29as their Prime Ministerial candidate.
01:31Now, let's talk about Chief Minister Vijay.
01:35So, what are his strong points and why he can also be the Prime Minister face?
01:40So, he has a strong mass appeal in Tamil Nadu.
01:43He has built a strong popular following across Tamil Nadu.
01:46He was earlier an actor, now he's the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
01:51Plus, the youth and first-time voter connect.
01:53So, he connects particularly well with the young people and the first-time voters.
01:57So, that's another X factor.
02:00He has this fresh and anti-establishment image.
02:03So, he brings a new political identity outside the traditional political establishment.
02:08In fact, he can boost prospects of a southern Prime Minister.
02:12So, he could strengthen the idea of a leader from South India becoming a Prime Minister contender.
02:17He calls BJP ideological adversary.
02:20So, he has publicly described the BJP as an ideological opponent
02:23while campaigning for the Tamil Nadu elections.
02:26And, he has working relationship with centre.
02:30So, despite political differences, his party works with the central government on various matters.
02:35But, there's a catch.
02:38He has limited political footprint outside Tamil Nadu.
02:41In fact, it has been just months into power.
02:47And, his political influence remains largely concentrated in Tamil Nadu.
02:52So, he has less national experience, untested national leadership.
02:56So, he's yet to demonstrate leadership of a broad national political coalition.
03:03So, a major political battle is taking shape in Tamil Nadu
03:06over who could emerge as the opposition alliances Prime Minister face for 2029.
03:11As the chorus grows within the TVK to project Chief Minister Vijay as a Prime Ministerial contender,
03:17the pitch is facing resistance from its allies and mockery from the opposition.
03:21AI ADM-K Chief Endapadi K. Palani Swami has mocked Vijay's Prime Minister ambitions,
03:26asking why he should stop at the Prime Minister's post and quipping that he could even become the US President.
03:32But, TVK's ally Congress is not on board.
03:34Tamil Nadu Ministers Rajesh Kumar and Vishwanathan had earlier backed Rahul Gandhi for Prime Minister's post,
03:40insisting TVK must accept Rahul Gandhi as the next Prime Minister contender
03:44and warning they could resign if the party refuses to back him.
03:48And another ally, MDMK Chief Vaiko, has also made his position clear,
03:53saying Rahul Gandhi remains the Prime Minister's choice for the India bloc
03:56and dismissing Vijay's Prime Minister pitch.
03:58Remember, Vijay is only months into his first stint as Tamil Nadu Chief Minister,
04:02but the latest India Today's Sea Voter mood of the nation poll
04:05puts him at number three in the National Prime Minister's preference race
04:10behind Prime Minister Modi and Rahul Gandhi.
04:15Let's also listen in to the war of words so far
04:17over Chief Minister Vijay for the Prime Minister's post.
04:47The Prime Minister
04:50turns out,
04:56the Statesists are the Prime Minister's dipht�
05:20He is the only person who is in the state of Kishore.
05:22He is not a bad person to be in the state of Alishikesh.
05:27Rasul Gandhi is a prominent candidate.
05:33That's why he has no chance to speak with the people who are in this country.
05:38The most important thing is he is a totally good person to speak with.
05:43If the person who are in the state of 2008,
05:59Thank you very much.
06:37Thank you very much.
06:45And can Vijay emerge as a Prime Minister candidate or not?
06:48So let's first take a look at what works in Vijay's favour.
06:51So he has strong electoral debut, massive personal popularity.
06:55That is what led to his victory in the elections.
06:58And now he's the Chief Minister.
07:00Three-year Chief Ministerial experience by 2029.
07:03So by 2029, he will be having three-year Chief Ministerial experience as well.
07:10And South Indian representation also because there are growing calls that the next Prime Minister should be from the southern
07:15part of the country.
07:16Vacuum created by anti-incumbency will also work in his favour.
07:21Now, what could hold Vijay back?
07:24Let's now take a look at those points.
07:25So there's no national electoral base.
07:28In fact, this was the maiden election that he had contested.
07:31And there's limited administrative track record.
07:34So if we talk about it today, it's just been months into power.
07:39However, this is the first time that the TVK is in power.
07:42This is the first time that Vijay contested any election.
07:45This is the first time that he has become the Chief Minister.
07:48So there's lack of administrative track record and a weak national organisation
07:53because so far the TVK is still confined to just Tamil Nadu.
07:57And there's resistance from allies like Congress, which is a national party.
08:01And the Congress has already said that it is Rahul Gandhi for the Prime Minister's post for 2029.
08:06And you need to back him, else we will quit from the Cabinet.
08:10There's also limited language and cultural reach.
08:13Because if you talk about South India, the people from the southern part would be glad
08:18if he becomes the Prime Ministerial candidate.
08:21But there's limited language and cultural reach if we talk about the northern parts of the country.
08:29Let's also take a look at if Vijay is a factor to reckon.
08:34So Vijay is emerging as an alternative to the options that already exist.
08:43And so people have got another option to look up to.
08:47Vijay is entering the Prime Minister race at the cost of Prime Minister Modi.
08:51So that's a key takeaway.
08:52Because if you look at the percentage of the mood of the nation poll by India Today's CEO voter,
08:58there has been a percentage decline in Prime Minister Modi's popularity and the positive responses.
09:05And that has in fact been transferred to Chief Minister Vijay.
09:09There's an anti-incumbency vote moving to Vijay than Rahul Gandhi.
09:14And that anti-incumbency vote has not moved to Rahul Gandhi.
09:17In fact, it has moved to Chief Minister Vijay.
09:20Curiosity factor in superstar turned Chief Minister.
09:24So people are very curious that how a superstar who contested the elections for the first time
09:30won the elections and has also now become the Chief Minister.
09:34So that is also what is driving this support for Vijay.
09:39And there's a big Gen Z factor in Vijay's rising popularity.
09:43So he has a good connect with the Gen Z, the young population, the first-time voters.
09:49And Vijay's popularity is growing beyond just south.
09:52So now it's no more the southern part of the country that is looking up to Vijay.
09:57In fact, across the country, in several states, in several parts,
10:01people are looking up to Vijay and his popularity is clearly growing.
10:05This is as per the Sea Voter Mood of the Nation vote.
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