Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai has clarified that he will not contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections and will instead focus on campaigning for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and National Democratic Alliance (NDA) candidates across the state. The BJP leader arrived in Chennai on Saturday after completing a phase of campaigning in Kerala and is expected to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss election-related matters and strategy.
Speaking to reporters after landing at the airport, Annamalai addressed the speculation surrounding his absence from the BJP’s candidate list released recently. He made it clear that the decision was entirely his own and that he had informed the party leadership about it in advance. According to him, he had already submitted a written communication to the state core committee stating that he would not contest from any constituency in this election. As a result, his name was not included in the list of probable candidates that was sent to the party’s central leadership for approval.
Annamalai said that if he had wanted to contest, he could have chosen any constituency in Tamil Nadu. However, he believes his role as a campaigner would be more effective for the party at this stage. He emphasized that the BJP leadership has given him specific responsibilities during the election period, and he intends to carry them out fully. The former IPS officer added that he has been asked to campaign in Puducherry and Kerala until April 7, after which he will lead campaign efforts across Tamil Nadu until the Assembly elections scheduled for April 23.
During his visit to Chennai, Annamalai is also expected to attend a closed-door meeting with senior BJP leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Party sources said the meeting will involve members of the Tamil Nadu BJP core committee, which consists of several senior leaders from the state unit. The discussion is likely to focus on the upcoming elections, campaign planning, and strategies to strengthen the NDA’s position in the state.
The BJP leader described the meeting with the Prime Minister as an opportunity to discuss the election campaign and share ideas with the national leadership. He noted that such interactions are important for coordinating efforts between the central leadership and the state unit during a crucial election period.
Annamalai also revealed that he had communicated his decision not to contest the election to several senior party leaders earlier. Among those he informed were Union Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP national general secretary B. L. Santhosh, and BJP leader Nitin Nabin. He said the discussion took place about a week before the candidate list was finalized. Annamalai expressed gratitude to the party leadership for respecting his decision and giving him the opportunity to work actively in the campaign.
Earlier, while campaigning in north Kerala, Annamalai had posted on social media that he would stand shoulder to shoulder with BJP and NDA candidates during the election campaign. He said his focus is to help the alliance achieve a strong performance in the Assembly elections. According to him, the goal is to ensure that the NDA secures a significant number of seats and strengthens its presence in the region.
The BJP has been working to expand its influence in Tamil Nadu, a state where regional parties like the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam have traditionally dominated politics. Party leaders believe that Annamalai’s energetic campaigning style and strong connect with grassroots workers could play a key role in energizing supporters during the election campaign.
Key highlights:
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai has announced that he will not contest the upcoming Assembly elections. He returned from campaigning in Kerala and is set to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Chennai for discussions related to the elections. Annamalai has been assigned campaign responsibilities in Puducherry, Kerala, and Tamil Nadu and will focus on supporting BJP and NDA candidates during the election campaign.