Rahul Gandhi Departs Delhi for Chennai Swearing-in Ceremony

Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in India, arrived at Delhi’s IGI Airport on May 10, 2026, to depart for Chennai, Tamil Nadu. He traveled to attend the swearing-in ceremony of C. Joseph Vijay as the state’s Chief Minister.

The ceremony, overseen by Governor Rajendra Arlekar, marks the formal assumption of power for Vijay, an actor-turned-politician. Vijay’s path to the chief minister’s office followed election results on May 4, after which he sought the necessary support to form a government in the state.

To secure the majority required for government formation, Vijay entered the Lok Bhavan in Chennai with letters of support from various parties, including the Indian National Congress. The support from the Congress party was instrumental in bolstering Vijay’s numbers after he fell short of a majority in the May 4 results.

Shift in Opposition Alliances

The decision by the Congress party to support Vijay represents a significant strategic shift in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape. By providing a formal letter of support to Vijay, the Congress party has effectively broken away from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

The DMK has historically been one of the most trusted allies of the Congress at the national level and has served as a senior partner within the state. The move to support Vijay is viewed as a rupture within the INDIA bloc, the opposition coalition.

Claims on the Capability of the Congress Party

The political developments in Tamil Nadu coincide with broader assertions made by Rahul Gandhi regarding the national fight against the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On the evening of May 8, 2026, Rahul Gandhi posted a short video clip on his X handle containing claims about the future of the Indian opposition.

In the video, Gandhi asserted that the Congress party is the only entity capable of defeating the current administration.

“Likh kar le lo,” take it in writing, No other party can defeat the BJP and Narendra Modi. Only the Congress can.

Rahul Gandhi

Gandhi further suggested that other political parties would be unable to withstand the combined force of the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

“You will see, all the other parties will not be able to stand in front of them (RSS and BJP), And in the end only the Congress party will stand; and the Congress party will defeat them.”

Rahul Gandhi

National Political Context

These developments occur during a period of heightened political activity across India. The BJP’s position has been recently strengthened following a victory in Bengal.

the political landscape is preparing for elections in Uttar Pradesh, a primary northern state, which are scheduled to take place in 10 months. The shift in alliances in the south and the assertions of the Congress party’s singular capability to lead the opposition come as the national contest appears increasingly challenging for the opposition bloc.