Congress ousts Tamil Nadu President post-Vijay criticism; Manickam Tagore steps in  

CHENNAI: In a swift political development, the Congress High Command has removed K. Selvaperunthagai from his post as the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee (PCC) President. Virudhunagar MP Manickam Tagore, who currently serves as the party’s Chief Whip in the Lok Sabha, has been appointed to lead the state unit.

The abrupt leadership overhaul comes immediately after Selvaperunthagai launched a sharp public attack on Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay and the ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) government. The political friction had escalated after Chief Minister Vijay publicly mocked DMK President and former Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. Selvaperunthagai fiercely countered the Chief Minister's remarks, drawing a hard line against the TVK—an aggressive stance that triggered immediate consequences within his own party.

Beyond the immediate rhetorical clash, the reshuffle exposes a widening ideological rift within the state Congress over its electoral future and strategic partners. The ousted chief had firmly believed that the Congress should sustain its traditional, long-standing alliance with the DMK. Conversely, the newly appointed chief is among the prominent leaders who have openly advocated for shifting gears and forging a post-poll alliance with the TVK.

This transition, however, brings its own set of complications. Manickam Tagore, who shares a close rapport with Rahul Gandhi, has a history of driving a hard bargain; his firm demand for a larger share of seats for the Congress during the last election cycle had previously caused friction with the DMK leadership. Furthermore, party sources indicate that the alliance debate wasn't the sole trigger, as a significant faction of state leaders, alongside the Congress High Command, had grown increasingly dissatisfied with Selvaperunthagai’s overall operational style, ultimately making his replacement inevitable.