On May 10, 2023, 'Thalapathy' Vijay, an actor-turned-politician, was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu, marking a historic moment as he is the first leader in nearly six decades without ties to the dominant Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) or All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) parties. Vijay's party, the Tamil Nadu Thalapathy Katchi (TVK), emerged as the single largest party with 108 seats, falling short of the 118-seat threshold needed for a majority. However, the Indian National Congress broke ranks from the DMK-led alliance to support Vijay, providing him with the necessary backing to form a government with 120 effective MLAs. Congress MP Rahul Gandhi attended the swearing-in ceremony, emphasizing the party's commitment to a new generation of leadership. This support mirrors past instances where Congress has allied with emerging parties, such as the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) in West Bengal, often resulting in those parties later challenging Congress's dominance. As Vijay assumes office, questions arise about the Congress's future role in Tamil Nadu politics, given its history of supporting new forces that eventually compete against it.