K. Annamalai cast aside
Chennai: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday announced its full list of 27 candidates for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, leaving out prominent leader K. Annamalai, the former state chief and until last year its most visible face in the state.
Annamalai, a former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer who resigned from his job and joined the BJP in 2020, does not find a place in the list even though the BJP is contesting seven seats more than the 2021 assembly polls.
The list released by the BJP, which is a part of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA), features prominent names in the state BJP, including Union Minister of State for Information & Broadcasting L. Murugan from Avinashi (SC), and former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan from Mylapore, which is the party’s only seat in Chennai.
The list also features current state president Nainar Nagenthran from Sattur, and BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore (North).
Other candidates in the list include Kirthika Shivkumar from Modakkurichi, S. Vijayadharani from Vilavancode, and Nagesh Kumar from Thalli.
According to the NDA’s seat-sharing formula for the state’s 234 seats, the AIADMK is contesting 169 seats, the BJP 27, Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) 18, the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) 11,while smaller allies such as the Tamil Maanila Congress are contesting the rest.
There were speculations that Annamalai would find a place in the BJP list, especially after his meeting with Union minister Piyush Goyal following the seat-sharing talks.
Annamalai’s absence from the list has emerged as the defining feature of the BJP strategy in the poll as he had significantly boosted the party’s visibility in Tamil Nadu, helping it expand its footprint beyond traditional pockets like Kanyakumari and Coimbatore.
While he had earlier said he would not contest the 2026 Assembly elections and asked the party not to field him, citing his role in strengthening the organisation as a karyakarta, multiple rounds of discussions with the central leadership kept the possibilities of him contesting open till the last moment.
Tamil Nadu votes in a single phase on April 23. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4, along with that for three other states and the UT of Puducherry.
Sources within the BJP said that with only one seat given to the BJP in Coimbatore, it was a choice between Vanathi Srinivasan and Annamalai.
“The AIADMK had retained a few seats in the state, including Singanallur, which was a possible option for Annamalai, Sulur, and Gowndanpalayam. If there was an additional seat in Coimbatore, it might have changed the list,” said a BJP functionary.
Annamalai had also stepped down as election in-charge for six constituencies in February, citing his father’s ill health.
Hearty congratulations to all the @BJP4TamilNadu winning candidates announced for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. They carry the support of every brother & sister of TN who is tired of corruption, complacency, and the DMK’s betrayal.
Under the visionary leadership of our… pic.twitter.com/GJm4Dq0uDQ
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) April 3, 2026
In a post on X after the release of the candidate list, Annamalai congratulated the candidates. “They carry the support of every brother & sister of TN who is tired of corruption, complacency, and the DMK’s betrayal,” he said.
He further added that the country has moved forward with strength, scale, and purpose under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“While the nation progresses, Tamil Nadu has been held back by a failed, arrogant, and self-serving DMK govt. I as a Karyakarta will stand shoulder to shoulder & campaign for all our winning BJP & other NDA candidates, with the aim of the NDA winning 210 seats in the upcoming assembly elections,” he said.
Political analysts say that the BJP prioritised maintaining alliance stability with the AIADMK over pushing harder on individual seat demands.
Political analyst Ravindran Thuraisamy, “2029 is the aim and very crucial for BJP and it is known that Annamalai is the key person for the NDA votes in Tamil Nadu. It is not just the assembly elections that are important for Modi, but 2029 elections are important. But the Delhi BJP will realise Annamalai’s power and worth soon.”
The BJP is undertaking efforts to build a stronger presence in the state while handling the complexities of coalition politics in a region dominated by Dravidian parties.
Annamalai’s sidelining comes after he was replaced as state president last year by Nainar Naginthiran, however, Home Minister Amit Shah had indicated that the party would continue to utilise Annamalai’s organizational skills.
(Edited by Ajeet Tiwari)
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