Published Apr 01, 2026 | 8:42 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 01, 2026 | 8:42 PM
Congress MP Manickam Tagore (Wikimedia Commons)
Synopsis: This development comes amid delays in the release of the Congress candidates’ list for the 28 Assembly constituencies allotted to the party in the DMK-led alliance for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Congress MP Manickam Tagore, who is serving as the head of the party’s election management and coordination committee, has reportedly written to party president Mallikarjun Kharge, expressing his decision to step down from the post.
However, there has been no official statement from either the party or the MP. While South First tried reaching Manickam Tagore, he is yet to respond.
This development comes amid delays in the release of the Congress candidates’ list for the 28 Assembly constituencies allotted to the party in the DMK-led alliance for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
Notably, Congress MP Jothimani and party functionary Praveen Chakravarty had also openly expressed their dissatisfaction over the candidate selection and alliance with DMK.
In this context, Manickam Tagore’s decision to allegedly resign has triggered fresh controversy within the party.
On Saturday, 28 March, MP Jothimani raised strong objections to the Congress party’s handling of seat allocation and candidate selection. While Congress has been allotted 28 constituencies in the alliance, Jothimani alleged that decisions regarding these seats are being made without consulting party members.
In a statement, she said there was “no transparency” in the selection of constituencies and that party functionaries had failed to consider calls for a more open and consultative process.
“All decisions have been taken in a highly secretive manner. The interests of the Congress party have been completely compromised,” she said.
Expressing concern over internal functioning, Jothimani added that long-time party workers who had contributed for years were being sidelined, while “those who have done little for the party are reaping the benefits.”
She also criticised the leadership, stating that the party does not belong only to office-bearers such as the state president or legislature party leader, but to lakhs of cadre whose efforts sustain it.
Jothimani warned that if the same “approach” continues in candidate selection, it would severely weaken the Congress party in Tamil Nadu.
She added that a detailed response would follow once the final list of candidates is released.
(With inputs from Subash Chandra Bose)
