TVK Formally Allots Rajya Sabha Seat to Congress — CM Vijay's Personal Statement Confirms Praveen Chakravarthy Frontrunner

CM Vijay personally issued a statement formally allotting the Tamil Nadu Rajya Sabha by-election seat to alliance partner Congress: "In the Rajya Sabha election scheduled to be held in Tamil Nadu on June 18, the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam-led alliance has decided to allocate the Rajya Sabha seat to its alliance partner, the Indian National Congress."

The seat fell vacant after AIADMK leader C. Ve. Shanmugam resigned from the Rajya Sabha on May 7, 2026, following his victory in the Mailam Assembly constituency in the state elections.

Congress is widely expected to field All India Professionals' Congress chief Praveen Chakravarthy — the key architect of the TVK-Congress alliance — as its candidate for the June 18 election.

With TVK commanding 159 seats (with coalition) in the 234-member House, a majority is easily achievable. The election is effectively a formality for the alliance's chosen candidate.