Rajya Sabha election: Congress fields new face Christopher in Tamil Nadu

In a astonishment choice, the Congress connected Thursday nominated Christopher Manickam, alias M. Christopher Tilak, a caller face, for its Rajya Sabha spot from Tamil Nadu.

The 53-year-old is 1 of the secretaries of the All India Congress Committee, and had been successful complaint of northeastern States specified arsenic Manipur and Nagaland, enactment sources said.

A Christian, Mr. Christopher is an technologist who holds a absorption degree. Speaking to reporters aft filing his information papers, Mr. Christopher termed himself an “ordinary worker” who was “identified” by enactment person Rahul Gandhi. “Though I americium not good known, I volition get myself introduced decently done my enactment for the radical of the State,” Mr. Christopher said portion thanking enactment leaders for giving him the responsibility.

TNCC president K. Selvaperunthagai thanked the enactment enactment for rewarding an mean enactment idiosyncratic who conscionable “had a sovereign of golden and a currency equilibrium of conscionable ₹13,000 arsenic declared successful his information papers”.

Echoing his sentiments, All India Congress Committee in-charge for Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Girish Chodankar, said it was a arrogant infinitesimal for the enactment arsenic it had nominated a youngster from an mean family, who had devoted himself to enactment work. “The enactment is honouring hard-working, talented youngsters,” helium said.

Mr. Christopher had been maintaining a debased illustration successful Tiruchi, wherever helium lives. “He had studied mostly successful Madurai. As helium was successful complaint of the northeastern States, helium was mostly away. However, ever since I took over, I person been inviting him to enactment functions successful the city. His information is simply a arrogant infinitesimal for the enactment successful the city,” said L. Rex, Urban District Congress Committee president.

With his information and the renomination of Tiruchi N. Siva by the DMK, Tiruchi territory is acceptable to clasp a alternatively unsocial favoritism of having 3 Rajya Sabha members astatine the aforesaid time. In June 2025, writer Rajathi Salma, hailing from Thuvarankurichi successful Tiruchi district, was elected to the Rajya Sabha arsenic the DMK candidate.

With antithetic Assembly segments successful Tiruchi territory coming nether Tiruchi, Perambalur and Karur Lok Sabha constituencies, the territory is represented by 3 Lok Sabha members: Durai Vaiko (MDMK), K.N. Arun Nehru (DMK) and S. Jothimani (Congress).

“It is simply a uncommon and ripe opportunity. With 3 Rajya Sabha and 3 Lok Sabha members, we should leverage it for the maturation and wide improvement of the district,” said H. Ghouse Baig, a civic activist.