B. Manickam Tagore was appointed as the President of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee

B. Manickam Tagore. File | Photo credit: G. Moorthy

In an expected move, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) high command on Saturday appointed Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore as the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC). AICC General Secretary KC Venugopal made the announcement in Chennai.

Karur MP S Jothimani and Sivaganga MP Karti Chidambaram are learned to have thrown their hats in the ring for the post.

Mr. Tagore’s appointment comes at a time when the Congress has parted ways with its long-time ally, the DMK, and joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in a bid to secure a share of power in the state and ahead of the upcoming local body and Lok Sabha elections.

Mr. Tagore will replace former Congress Legislature Party leader K. Selvaperunthagai.

Although Mr Selvaperunthagai oversaw a remarkable victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the appointment marks the end of a difficult period for the TNCC, which saw infighting that threatened to disrupt the alliance ahead of the 2026 State Assembly elections.

Known as one of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s close aides, Mr Tagore has supported the power-sharing demand in alliance with the DMK and has often engaged in a war of words with the Dravidian party’s IT wing.

He was a vocal and staunch critic of the BJP in and out of Parliament.

Published – 27 Jun 2026 17:29 IST