In 1936, Tiruchi set an example for inner-party rebellion in the Congress

T.S.S. Rajan put up Ponniah Pillai to fight against official candidate P. Ratnavelu Thevar in the election for the chairmanship of the Tiruchi Municipal Council. Thevar’s defeat triggered a chain of events, leading to the offer of resignation of C. Rajagopalachari, Rajan’s mentor, and appeal by the national leadership to him to give it up