Tamil Nadu Congress Chief Seeks Exit, Cites Factional Tensions and Post-Election Disputes
Tamil Nadu Congress Chief Seeks Exit, Cites Factional Tensions and Post-Election Disputes
Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) president K Selvaperunthagai has formally requested the party’s national leadership to relieve him of his post, travelling to Bengaluru on Sunday to personally petition AICC president Mallikarjun Kharge to expedite the appointment of his successor.
Selvaperunthagai told reporters he had signalled his intention to step down well before the polls. “In April, I had made it clear that I would not continue as TNCC president after the elections. It is now time for me to step down,” he said.
Post-Election Complications Delayed Exit
The outgoing chief cited a series of unresolved post-election matters as the reason for his delayed departure. Chief among them were Congress’s negotiations for two cabinet berths and a Rajya Sabha seat in the TVK-led government — discussions he said have now largely concluded.
Despite having six to seven months remaining in his official tenure, sources indicate Selvaperunthagai is eager to go, with persistent factional divisions within the state unit adding pressure to his decision. Kharge has reportedly asked him to wait a few more days before a final call is made.
Alliance Disputes Fuelled Internal Criticism
Selvaperunthagai’s tenure was marked by open dissent from within Congress’s own ranks. Senior leaders including Manickam Tagore and S Jothimani publicly criticised his management of seat-sharing negotiations ahead of the 2026 assembly elections, particularly his handling of the party’s alliance with the DMK.
When a section of Congress leaders pushed for an alignment with the TVK, Selvaperunthagai was among the most vocal advocates for maintaining the existing DMK partnership — a stance that deepened fault lines within the state unit.
He acknowledged the criticism but stopped short of addressing it directly. “Several leaders criticised me during the election period. I will address those issues at a press conference,” he said.
Succession Unclear as High Command Deliberates
No successor has been named. The AICC’s decision to ask Selvaperunthagai to stand by suggests the national leadership is still weighing its options for a state unit that has struggled to project internal cohesion ahead of a critical electoral cycle.
