TN Congress launches 40-day 'Save the Constitution' campaign

Chennai: The Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) is set to launch its 40-day campaign, 'Save the Constitution', on Sunday at 4 p.m. in Teynampet, Chennai.

Aimed at opposing the Union government’s alleged undermining of constitutional values, the campaign will feature participation from All India Congress Committee (AICC) secretary in charge of Tamil Nadu, Girish Chodankar, and senior leader and former Union minister P. Chidambaram.

This initiative aligns with a nationwide campaign mandated by resolutions passed during the Congress’ Ahmedabad and Belagavi sessions.

State Congress chief K. Selvaperunthagai has appointed senior party functionaries to oversee activities across 72 district units. He has directed these leaders to work closely with district presidents and conduct consultative meetings at zonal, town, and block levels.

In a statement, Selvaperunthagai announced that the campaign would roll out in four phases, covering the state, district, and assembly constituency levels.

From May 5 to May 10, public meetings will be held in every district, followed by constituency-wise outreach drives from May 11 to May 17. Party cadres will also conduct door-to-door visits across polling booth areas.

G.K. Muralidharan, TNCC state general secretary and in charge of the Dindigul urban district unit for the campaign, told reporters, “District units will take the party’s message to every street and household, distributing pamphlets that expose the BJP’s anti-people policies.”

The Congress, a key constituent of the DMK-led INDIA bloc in Tamil Nadu, is preparing for the 2026 Assembly elections.

During its recent district secretaries’ meeting in Chennai, the DMK expressed confidence in retaining power and urged alliance partners to campaign vigorously across the state.

This campaign marks a significant political mobilisation ahead of the upcoming elections.

K. Selvaperunthagai, marking his first anniversary as TNCC president, is a prominent Dalit leader with strong grassroots appeal and a reputation for outspoken criticism of political rivals. However, he has recently encountered dissent from a faction of party members aligned with a Congress Member of Parliament from southern Tamil Nadu.

The Congress currently holds 17 seats in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, a significant increase from the eight seats it won in 2016.

With the DMK aiming to secure 200 of the 234 seats in the upcoming elections, Selvaperunthagai is expected to be given a free hand by the party high command in shaping Congress’ state affairs.

Sources within the Tamil Nadu Congress suggest that Selvaperunthagai enjoys the backing of senior party leaders, including AICC General Secretary (Organisation) K.C. Venugopal. Party insiders also indicate that the TNCC chief is planning an organisational revamp ahead of the 2026 polls.

Historically, Congress has played a secondary role in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, long dominated by the Dravidian majors—the DMK and AIADMK. However, through this extensive campaign, the party hopes to strengthen its position in the state’s evolving political dynamics.

(inputs from IANS)