Dhanuskodi Athithan, a veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister of State for Youth Affairs and Sport, has called for the Congress party to transform into a 'people’s movement.' Speaking in an interview, he emphasized the need for the party to engage in grassroots work and address local issues, particularly in Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari districts where the party still holds strength. Athithan, who suffered a personal tragedy in 2006 when he lost his wife in a car accident, continues to be active in politics and attended a recent public meeting led by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. He expressed confidence that the party's leadership could revitalize the Congress, recalling the steadfastness of former Tamil Nadu Congress Committee chief G.K. Moopanar. Athithan rejected the notion that the party has a narrow base, citing long-standing support from communities like the Nadars and Scheduled Castes. His message to those facing adversity is to maintain self-confidence, a principle he embodied by returning to political life within six months of his accident.