Alagappa belonged to numerically strong Vanniyar community of Tamil Nadu.
Manickavelu entered politics early in life and became a member of the Swarajya Party faction of the Indian National Congress.
In 1951, Naicker founded the Commonweal Party which represented Vanniyar interests in Chingleput and North Arcot districts.
[5] When Rajagopalachari stepped down as Chief Minister and was succeeded by Kamaraj, Naicker dissolved the Commonweal Party and merged his organisation with the Indian National Congress.
[6] He served as a member of the Madras Legislative Assembly till 1962 when he was elected to the upper house of India's Parliament, the Council of States.