Reorganisation Commission had not recommended for the adoption of the name Tamil Nadu for the reorganised Madras State. Ma.Po. Si, tireless efforts an all-party conference was convened on 27th January which called for a general hartal on 20th Feb . A number of protests and agitation took place in Madras State.
Sankaralinganar, a freedom fighter and one of the disciples of Gandhi who belonged to Virudhunager demanded to rename Madras State as Tamil Nadu. He observed fast unto his death from July to his last breath on 13th October . The death of Sankaralinganar created a mass struggle in Madras State. College students, labourers, women, and different organisations openly participated in the movements.
Later this affected the politics of Madras State. Owing to the influence of these movements, Congress lost its popularity among the people. Finally, it reflected in the general election, when Congress was totally swept away from Tamil Nadu and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) captured political power. DMK renamed the Madras State as ‘Tamil Nadu’.