A Tamil Nadu Congress Committee meeting in Chennai on Sunday saw an altercation and exchange of blows between supporters of former Union minister P Chidambaram and TNCC president E V K S Elangovan, resulting in injuries to a party worker, following which two functionaries were arrested.
As soon as an in-house meeting for party workers got underway, a heated exchange of words began between the two groups.
Functionaries led by Saidai Muthamizh questioned Senji Rajendran as to how the meeting was being held without consulting him, the local area president of the party.
Rajendran, party in-charge for Saidapet Assembly constituency, however said the meeting was organised as per directives of senior functionaries.
The argument later led to fisticuffs between supporters of two groups, resulting in injuries to one person.
While Muthamizh's group is loyalists of 'Karate' Thiagarajan, a follower of Chidambaram, Rajendran is a loyalist of Elangovan.
"This is the third such meeting in the city. Supporters of party state president Elangovan never consult us before going ahead with such meetings," a senior state Congress leader told PTI, voicing support for Muthamizh.
Another state leader said Rajendran had every right to hold the meeting as the in-charge of the constituency.
Police said they received a complaint from Rajendran and after investigation, a case was registered.
Muthamizh and another Congress functionary Karthik were arrested and remanded to judicial custody and later lodged in Puzhal Central Prison, they said.