Rahul Gandhi and the BJP trade sharp words over actor Vijay’s film Jana Nayagan, with allegations of cultural suppression adding heat ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu elections.

A fresh political flashpoint has emerged around Tamil identity and cinema, triggering a war of words between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the BJP over delays faced by actor-politician Vijay’s upcoming film Jana Nayagan, slated for a Pongal release.

During his recent visit to Tamil Nadu, Rahul Gandhi accused the Centre of targeting Tamil cultural expression, alleging that actions linked to the Central Board of Film Certification amounted to an attack on the state’s identity. Taking aim at Narendra Modi, Rahul said the voice of the Tamil people could not be silenced.

The BJP responded sharply on January 14, with national spokesperson Guru Prakash Paswan dismissing Rahul’s remarks as baseless and divisive. The party accused him of stoking regional and linguistic fault lines, while asserting that the Modi government has actively promoted Tamil language and heritage over the past decade.

The confrontation has drawn attention because it unfolds against the backdrop of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Rahul’s public support for Vijay and the film is being read in political circles as an attempt to tap into Tamil pride and recalibrate Congress’s position amid evolving alliances, including speculation around ties with Vijay’s party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam.

Cinema and culture often become proxies for larger political battles in Tamil Nadu, and this episode fits that pattern. Rahul Gandhi’s intervention signals a sharper regional pitch by Congress, while the BJP’s pushback shows it is unwilling to cede the narrative on cultural nationalism. For voters, the debate may influence how national parties are perceived on issues of autonomy and identity as election season approaches.