In a significant development within the Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee (TN PCC), the Congress party has announced the appointment of K. Selvaperunthagai as the new TN PCC President, replacing KS Alagiri. Additionally, S Rajesh Kumar has been named as the CLP Leader of Tamil Nadu, as per a statement released by Congress General Secretary KC Venugopal.
Hon’ble Congress President has appointed Shri K. Selvaperunthagai as the President of Tamil Nadu Pradesh Congress Committee with immediate effect.
Hon’ble Congress President has also approved the proposal of the appointment of Shri S. Rajesh Kumar as the CLP Leader of Tamil Nadu. pic.twitter.com/HasWMkkMkS
— INC Sandesh (@INCSandesh) February 17, 2024
This comes after in January, the All India Congress Committee (AICC) has appointed KS Alagiri to head a 23-member election committee for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu. The announcement was made by Party General Secretary K.C. Venugopal, as per news agency IANS. The committee includes prominent leaders such as K. Selva Perunthagai, P. Chidambaram, Kumari Anathan, and others.
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Demands Within Tamil Nadu Congress For Leadership Change
Last year, IANS reported that the Tamil Nadu Congress was divided into three factions, each supporting different leaders including the incumbent president, K.S. Alagiri, Tamil Nadu Congress Legislative Party leader K. Selvaperunthagai, and IAS officer-turned-politician Sasikanth Senthil.
Speculations regarding a change in leadership were rife, with some factions expressing dissatisfaction with Alagiri’s tenure, citing alleged inactivity in state Congress affairs. However, uncertainties prevailed as the high command remained undecided, cautious of potential disruptions within the party, IANS’s report stated.
Despite internal divisions, Congress’s electoral fortunes in Tamil Nadu have largely depended on its alliance with the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA). Notably, in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, Congress secured nine out of the ten seats it contested as part of this alliance.
Responding to the developments, a source close to Alagiri told IANS, “The high command is undecided on a change in leadership as it may upset the present situation in the party.”
Another IANS source from the factions opposed to Alagiri’s continuation expressed dissatisfaction, stating, “The incumbent president has not done anything for the state Congress, and several booth committees of the party are not functioning.”