Indian National Congress (INC)
இந்திய தேசிய காங்கிரஸ்
India's oldest party, which governed Madras State until 1967 and since 2026 is part of the TVK-led government.
About
The Indian National Congress, founded in 1885, led India's freedom movement. In the Madras Presidency and later Madras State, leaders such as C. Rajagopalachari, K. Kamaraj and M. Bhaktavatsalam served as Chief Ministers.
K. Kamaraj's tenure (1954–1963) is remembered for expanding school education and the midday meal scheme. The Congress lost power in the state in 1967 to the DMK and has not formed a government in Tamil Nadu on its own since.
The party's Tamil Nadu unit, the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC), was a long-standing ally of the DMK. After the 2026 Assembly election, it left the DMK-led alliance and joined the TVK-led government.
Key Milestones
- 1885
Founded in Bombay
- 1954
K. Kamaraj becomes Chief Minister
- 1967
Loses power in the state to the DMK
- 2004
Joins DMK-led alliance (DPA)
- 2026
Wins 5 of 28 seats contested in the DMK-led alliance
- 2026
Leaves the DMK-led alliance after the results and joins the TVK-led government
- 2026
Manickam Tagore replaces K. Selvaperunthagai as TNCC president (27 June)
TVK
DMK
AIADMK
VCK
BJP
PMK
CPI(M)
NTK
MDMK