Manickam Tagore named TNCC president, replacing Selvaperunthagai in Congress reshuffle
Synopsis
The Congress high command has replaced TNCC chief Selvaperunthagai with three-time Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore — a leader who publicly pushed for a TVK alliance against the party's DMK-first line. The timing, one day after Selvaperunthagai criticised CM Vijay and the state government, makes this reshuffle as much about internal discipline as electoral strategy.
Key Takeaways
Manickam Tagore , Lok Sabha Whip and three-time Virudhunagar MP , was appointed TNCC president on 27 June .
Selvaperunthagai , whose removal came a day after he criticised CM C.
Joseph Vijay and the state government.
Tagore had publicly advocated an alliance with Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) , a position that clashed with the Congress-DMK alliance line.
Selvaperunthagai had consistently backed the DMK alliance and opposed any TVK tie-up — exposing a sharp internal divide.
Tagore is considered close to Rahul Gandhi and is expected to reorganise the party ahead of future electoral battles in Tamil Nadu .
The Indian National Congress on Saturday, 27 June appointed B. Manickam Tagore — Lok Sabha Whip and three-time Virudhunagar Member of Parliament — as the new president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), replacing K. Selvaperunthagai in a significant organisational overhaul. The move reflects the party high command's intent to recalibrate its strategy in Tamil Nadu following the recently concluded Assembly election.
Why the Change Was Made
Party sources indicate that a section of Tamil Nadu leaders, backed by senior functionaries in New Delhi, had grown dissatisfied with Selvaperunthagai's leadership style and political direction. That internal pressure, reportedly building for several months, ultimately paved the way for Tagore's elevation to the top state post.
Notably, Selvaperunthagai's removal came just a day after he publicly criticised Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay over a gesture directed at Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) president and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. He had also attacked the state government — of which the Congress is a coalition partner — alleging administrative shortcomings, remarks that are said to have strained relations within the ruling alliance.
Who Is Manickam Tagore
A seasoned parliamentarian, Tagore is widely regarded as one of Congress's more prominent Tamil Nadu voices and is considered close to senior party leader Rahul Gandhi. His three consecutive wins from Virudhunagar give him a credible electoral base in the state, and his role as Lok Sabha Whip underscores his standing within the national party structure.
Tagore had been among the earliest Congress leaders to publicly advocate an alliance with Chief Minister Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) ahead of the Assembly election. He also called for a larger seat share and greater participation in government — positions that reportedly created friction with the DMK, which headed the state's INDIA bloc alliance.
The Alliance Fault Lines
The contrasting stances of the two leaders laid bare sharp divisions within the state Congress. While Tagore pushed for a political realignment toward the TVK, Selvaperunthagai consistently backed the continuation of the Congress-DMK alliance and opposed any move toward a TVK tie-up. The high command's decision to side with Tagore's elevation signals, at minimum, a willingness to keep alliance options open as Tamil Nadu's political landscape shifts.
What Comes Next
Political observers believe Tagore's appointment will influence the Congress's approach to both organisational rebuilding and alliance negotiations in the state. His elevation is expected to strengthen the party's internal structure as it prepares for future electoral contests. How the DMK responds to the change — and whether Tagore moderates his earlier TVK overtures now that he holds the top state post — will be closely watched in the weeks ahead.
Point of View
Even from its own state president. Selvaperunthagai's removal the day after he criticised CM Vijay is too neat to be coincidental. But the deeper tension is strategic — by elevating Tagore, a vocal TVK advocate, the party keeps a back channel to a rival political force open while nominally remaining in the DMK-led INDIA bloc. That ambiguity may buy tactical flexibility, but it risks further unsettling the DMK at a moment when Congress needs the alliance more than it lets on.
NationPress
27 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the new TNCC president?
B. Manickam Tagore , Lok Sabha Whip and three-time Member of Parliament from Virudhunagar , has been appointed the new president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) . He replaces K. Selvaperunthagai following a Congress high command-driven organisational reshuffle on 27 June.
Why was K. Selvaperunthagai removed as TNCC president?
Party sources point to growing internal dissatisfaction with Selvaperunthagai's leadership and political direction. His removal came notably one day after he publicly criticised Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and alleged administrative shortcomings in the state government, of which Congress is a coalition partner.
What is Manickam Tagore's position on the TVK alliance?
Tagore was among the first Congress leaders to publicly advocate an alliance with Chief Minister Vijay's Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) . He also called for a larger Congress seat share, remarks that reportedly created friction with the DMK , which leads the state's INDIA bloc.
How does this reshuffle affect the Congress-DMK alliance?
The appointment of a TVK-friendly leader as TNCC chief introduces uncertainty into the Congress-DMK relationship. Political observers will watch whether Tagore moderates his earlier TVK overtures now that he holds the top state post, and how the DMK responds to the change.
What does this reshuffle signal about Congress's Tamil Nadu strategy?
The move suggests the Congress high command is reassessing both its internal discipline and its alliance calculus in Tamil Nadu. By installing Tagore, the party appears to be keeping its political options open while simultaneously sending a message that public dissent within the coalition will not be tolerated.
