Intra-party tussles have a long history, both at the national level and in Tamil Nadu. It is well known that during the pre-Independence days, the working of the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee (TNCC) was characterised by two groups: one owing allegiance to C. Rajagopalachari, or Rajaji, and the other to S. Satyamurti initially and after his demise, his main follower K. Kamaraj. Also, the Rajaji-Kamaraj rivalry continued for over 30 years till they patched up their differences in 1971. What is less known is perhaps the first instance of the Premier of the Madras Presidency, Omandur P. Ramaswami Reddiar (1895-1970), taking away the Police portfolio from his Home Minister P. Subbaroyan (1889-1962), who himself was the Premier during 1926-30.
After Reddiar became the Premier in March 1947, it was a matter of time that he and Subbaroyan developed differences over several issues. Eight months later, a terse announcement was made by the government on November 17, 1947, that the subject of Police had been taken over by the Premier. According to ‘Kumaramangalam Thyaga Deepengal’, published by the Kongunadu Trust, the then Union Home Minister “Sardar” Vallabhbhai Patel took up the issue with the Premier. In his reply, Reddiar, who kept in mind a large influx of people from the erstwhile Hyderabad princely state to the Presidency, cited tension in the districts on the inter-State border following unrest in the neighbouring State. He explained that the forces belonging to the other State had been stationed in the border areas and people in the Presidency, who were on the other side of the border, were apprehensive that they would enter the Presidency anytime. It was against this backdrop that the change was effected, the book said (pages 306-307). However, Subbaroyan’s admirers interpreted the development as “a calculated slur” and he was reported to have given “an ultimatum” to Reddiar that if the subject was not restored to him, he would resign.
