Our aim should be to make Rahul Gandhi PM in 2029, says B. Manickam Tagore
Outgoing TNCC President K. Selvaperunthagai congratulated his successor B. Manickam Tagore. | Photo credit: SR RAGHUNATHAN
Virudhunagar Congress MP B. Manickam Tagore took charge as the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) President on Monday (June 29, 2026) in the presence of senior leaders, Congress ministers, MPs and several former TNCC chiefs at Sathyamurthy Bhavan in Chennai.
Mr. Tagore said assuming office was akin to “running a marathon” and appreciated the contribution of his predecessors in building the party.
“Our aim should be to win 40 out of 40 Lok Sabha seats (in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) and ensure that Rahul Gandhi becomes the prime minister in 2029. Only Rahul Gandhi can ensure abolition of NEET, protection of our rights over Cauvery, ensure safety of fishermen, provide fair transfer of this financial center to Nadu and provide the financial center there. country,” he said.
“History will show that in the last two years, (outgoing TNCC chief) Selvaperunthagai got back the property that former Congress leader K. Kamaraj had acquired. He also played a key role in the formation of Grama Committees in Tamil Nadu. In two years, that would be one of the most important changes. My aim would be to do something better,” he said.
In his clashes with DMK leaders in the recent past, Mr. Tagore said he would hit back at those who attacked the Congress. “TNCC is new to me. There may be some issues with my approach. We are all human beings but we have to understand that Congress itself is important. I have no personal differences with K. Thalapathi (Madurai DMK leader), DMK MLA Anitha Radhakrishnan, DMK leader RS Bharathi.
He asked, “In every survey conducted in Tamil Nadu, 60%-65% people say that Rahul Gandhi should be the Prime Minister. The question before us is why people who like Rahul Gandhi don’t vote for Congress? We have to bring Rahul Gandhi to the fore. Tamil Nadu assembly polls have shown us that money cannot win elections. Politics has changed.”
Mr. Tagore appealed to Congress ministers to be present at Sathyamurthy Bhavan one day a week to meet the cadre.
Mr. Selvaperunthagai said, “I am handing over the responsibility the same way I took it in 2024. We have started Village Committees in Tamil Nadu for which Peter Alphonse also took responsibility. 17,654 Ward Committees have been formed and around 1,64,000 ID cards with QR codes have been distributed to all.”
Published – 29 Jun 2026 23:41 IST