No BJP ticket for Annamalai in Tamil Nadu polls, was upset over seat-sharing

The BJP on Friday released its list of 27 candidates for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections under the AIADMK-led NDA, with the conspicuous absence of former state chief K Annamalai emerging as the biggest talking point.

The party’s Tamil Nadu chief, Nainar Nagendran, who took over the BJP reins from Annamalai, refused to comment on the former IPS officer’s absence from the candidate list, saying, “This is the decision of the party high command”.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who has been leading the BJP’s discussions and strategy for the state, also attempted to downplay it, saying that Annamalai prefers to work across the state rather than be confined to a single constituency.

“The candidates are selected based on inputs from the state unit and the preferences of each individual regarding where and in what capacity they wish to serve. All these factors have been taken into consideration. He (Annamalai) is a dedicated party worker and has expressed a desire to work across the state rather than be restricted to one constituency,” the Union Minister said.

Annamalai, however, reacted to the announcement, saying he would, as a worker, stand shoulder to shoulder with the party and campaign for all NDA candidates.

Annamalai’s absence has become the defining feature of the list, especially given earlier indications that he might contest from a Coimbatore-region seat. However, sources suggest that he was upset over seat allocation, particularly with the AIADMK retaining key constituencies in Coimbatore, considered a BJP stronghold, and decided not to contest in protest.

According to sources, the 41-year-old leader even wrote to the party’s central leadership in Delhi, flagging concerns over the seat allocations, and reportedly informed them of his decision to stay out of the Tamil Nadu polls.

Reports also claim that Annamalai had pushed for at least the Singanallur seat, which was earlier seen as a likely option for him, to be allotted to the BJP within the alliance. However, AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami retained tight control over seat-sharing and denied the request.

Analysts point out that the BJP’s central leadership did not push aggressively for Coimbatore seats, prioritising the stability of the alliance with the AIADMK. The AIADMK had quit the NDA alliance in Tamil Nadu in 2023, citing friction with then BJP chief Annamalai and accusing him of making remarks about Dravidian stalwarts such as J Jayalalithaa and CN Annadurai that “defamed” its legacy. However, the two parties have since reconciled, with the AIADMK returning to the alliance ahead of the Assembly elections.

Annamalai, a former IPS officer who led the Tamil Nadu BJP from 2021 to 2025, was instrumental in expanding the party’s grassroots presence through aggressive campaigns and statewide outreach programmes. His assertive political style made him one of the BJP’s most prominent leaders in a state traditionally dominated by Dravidian parties.

Meanwhile, the BJP fielded its state president Nainar Nagendran from Sattur, Union Minister L Murugan from Avanashi, and former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan from Mylapore.

Polling for the 234-member Tamil Nadu assembly is slated to be held on April 23.