B. Manickam Tagore. File
| Photo Credit: G. Moorthy
In an expected move, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) high command on Saturday (June 27, 2026) appointed Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore as the president of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC). AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal made the announcement in Chennai.
It is learnt that Karur MP S. Jothimani and Sivaganga MP Karti Chidambaram had thrown their hats into 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 in power in the State and ahead of the upcoming local body and Lok Sabha elections.
Mr. Tagore will be replacing former Congress Legislative Party leader K. Selvaperunthagai.
Though 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 internal squabbles that threatened to disrupt the alliance ahead of the 2026 State Assembly elections.
Known as one of the close associates of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Mr. Tagore had backed the demand for a share in power in the alliance with the DMK and had often engaged in a war of words with the Dravidian party’s IT wing.
He has been a vocal and staunch critic of the BJP in Parliament and outside it.
Published – June 27, 2026 05:29 pm IST
