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Congress, BJP Unveil Key Candidates for Tamil Nadu Assembly Polls

The All India Congress Committee has announced its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with state party chief K Selvaperunthagai contesting from Sriperumbudur. Simultaneously, the BJP released its own list of 27 candidates, notably excluding its prominent state leader K Annamalai, a move causing political surprise. The elections for the state's 234 constituencies are scheduled for April 23, 2026, with vote counting on May 4. The main electoral battle is projected between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance.

Key Points: Tamil Nadu Polls: Congress, BJP Candidate Lists Announced

  • Congress announces 27 candidates
  • BJP list omits key leader K Annamalai
  • Elections set for April 23, 2026
  • DMK-led SPA vs AIADMK-led NDA contest
2 min read

Congress announces 27 candidates for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections

Congress and BJP release candidate lists for Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. Key leaders fielded, but BJP's Annamalai missing from roster.

"The release of the BJP's first candidate list... has sent shockwaves. - Report"

Chennai, April 3

The All India Congress Committee on Friday announced its list of 27 candidates for the forthcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Among the key candidates, Tamil Nadu Congress PCC chief K Selvaperunthagai will contest from the Sriperumbudur Assembly Constituency, while former MP Dr A Chella Kumar will represent Krishnagiri Assembly Constituency.

Other notable selections include Durai Chandrasekar from Ponneri (SC), Gopinath Palaniyappar from Erode (East), and Rama Karumanickam from Tiruvadana.

The candidates were chosen by the Central Election Committee after careful consideration.

Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) also released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, after negotiations within the National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

The release of the BJP's first candidate list for the April 23, 2026, Tamil Nadu Assembly elections has sent shockwaves through the state's political circles. K Annamalai, the aggressive "Singham" of the Tamil Nadu BJP who was widely expected to lead the charge, is conspicuously absent from the roster.

While senior leaders like Tamilisai Soundararajan (Mylapore), Vanathi Srinivasan (Coimbatore North), and Union Minister L Murugan (Avinashi) have been fielded, Annamalai's name is nowhere to be found.

Annamalai K has made commendable achievements in taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies to the people or taking the party's projects village by village in the state. The party's top brass leadership, such as Home Minister Amit Shah, has on many occasions stated that the BJP will utilise Annamalai's organisational skills in the party's national structure.

Tamil Nadu will go to the polls in a single phase on April 23, covering a total of 234 constituencies in the State. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.

The current tenure of the assembly ends on May 10.

The main contest is expected to be between Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), which includes DMK, Congress, and Other parties, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), led by All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) as allies.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

V
Vikram M
No Annamalai on the BJP list? That's the real story! He was their face in TN. Makes you wonder about internal politics. Maybe Delhi has other plans for him. Interesting times ahead for the NDA alliance.
R
Rahul R
As a Tamilian, I just want a stable government that works on water management, jobs, and infrastructure. Whether it's SPA or NDA, their local manifesto matters more than the party symbol. Let's see what they offer.
S
Sarah B
Respectfully, I think the article gives too much space to BJP's internal matters when announcing a Congress list. The focus should be on the Congress candidates and their profiles. A more balanced report would be better.
K
Karthik V
Congress needs strong local leaders who connect with the people. Sriperumbudur is an important seat. Hope Selvaperunthagai ji can deliver. The alliance with DMK is crucial for them to win any seats at all. Fingers crossed!
A
Anjali F
Excited to see more women candidates in the fray from all parties! Tamil Nadu has often led in women's representation. Hope this election continues that trend. The issues of women's safety and employment are key. 💪

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