Fact Check: Is Rahul Gandhi Following Vijay On X Amid TVK-Congress Alliance Buzz?

Internet is buzz with the rumours of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi following Vijay, actor and TVK chief, on X aka Twitter.

The speculations gained momentum as the deadlock over the seat-sharing talks between Congress and DMK continues ahead of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections.

This rumour has been interpreted by many as a clear signal of a political realignment, suggesting the Congress might be preparing to ditch its long-time ally, the DMK, to join forces with the Tamil film actor. But is there any truth to this viral claim?

The 'Follow' That Never Happened

The buzz began amid a reported deadlock between the Congress and the DMK over seat-sharing. As discussions hit a rough patch, several accounts on X began sharing that Rahul Gandhi was now among the followers of Vijay. For political watchers, a 'follow' on social media is often seen as the first step in a burgeoning political relationship, giving these rumours significant weight. However, a simple, direct verification of the facts tells a different story.

Upon examining the official X account of Rahul Gandhi, it is clear that the claim is inaccurate. At the time of publishing this story, the Leader of the Opposition was following a limited number of accounts, a list that does not include Vijay or the official handle of the TVK. A cross-verification from Vijay's account confirms the same; Rahul Gandhi is not among the accounts he follows. The viral claim is, therefore, false.

This aligns with the Congress leader's historically minimal engagement on the platform, where his "following" count is drastically lower than his follower count.

While the specific claim of a social media 'follow' is untrue, it is equally incorrect to suggest that the relationship between Rahul Gandhi and Vijay is a recent phenomenon. The two leaders share a cordial equation that goes back years. As TVK functionaries have previously noted, following the devastating Karur stampede in September 2025, Rahul Gandhi was among the first to reach out to Vijay, offering solace with a message of solidarity.

This connection has historical roots. As far back as 2009, reports emerged that a younger Rahul Gandhi had offered Vijay the post of Tamil Nadu Youth Congress President, recognizing the actor's massive fan following as a potential catalyst to revive the party's fortunes in the state. Furthermore, Rahul Gandhi has consistently supported Vijay in the past when the latter's films have faced political heat. In 2017, he came out in support of Vijay when the BJP objected to certain dialogues in the film Mersal.

This long-standing rapport resurfaced in January 2026 when the release of Vijay's film Jana Nayagan faced hurdles with the Central Board of Film Certification. Rahul Gandhi publicly slammed the Union Government, calling the move an "attack on Tamil culture". The TVK welcomed this as a "friendly gesture," but maintained a cautious stance on any political discussions, stating that such decisions rest solely with their party chief.