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BJP's Annamalai Snub: High Command Decision Shakes Tamil Nadu Polls

Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran stated that K Annamalai's absence from the party's candidate list was a decision from the BJP High Command. The list of 27 candidates includes senior leaders like Tamilisai Soundararajan and Union Minister L. Murugan, but notably excludes the popular Annamalai. Annamalai has been given a significant campaigning responsibility across Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry for the BJP and NDA allies. The state will vote on April 23 in a contest primarily between the DMK-led alliance and the NDA.

Key Points: Annamalai Absent from BJP Tamil Nadu List, Nagendran Cites High Command

  • Annamalai omitted from BJP candidate list
  • State BJP chief calls it a High Command decision
  • Annamalai assigned major campaigning role
  • List includes senior leaders like Tamilisai Soundararajan
3 min read

"Decision from high command": Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran on Annamalai's absence from candidates' list

Tamil Nadu BJP chief says Annamalai's candidacy omission is a High Command decision. Annamalai to campaign statewide as BJP releases 27-candidate list.

"This is a decision from the High Command... - Nainar Nagendran"

New Delhi, April 3

Tamil Nadu BJP President Nainar Nagendran on Friday called K Annamalai's absence from the party's candidates' list a decision "from the High Command."

Speaking with ANI, he lauded the list of 27 candidates and expressed confidence in their victory.

"A list of 27 candidates has been released by the BJP High Command... All the 27 candidates will surely win this time," he said.

"This is a decision from the High Command...," he added.

This comes after the BJP released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, after negotiations within the NDA alliance.

The list has sent shockwaves through the state's political circles, after BJP National Executive Member K Annamalai, the aggressive "Singham" of the Tamil Nadu BJP, was not given a candidacy.

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.

It comes as a shocker as 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.

Earlier in the day, BJP MP Tejasvi Surya described K Annamalai as the "most popular leader of the BJP" and said that Annamalai's popularity will translate into victory for the party candidates across the state.

"Annamalai is the most popular leader of the BJP, not just in Tamil Nadu, but he commands a large following all over the country. He has been given the responsibility of campaigning for all the candidates in Tamil Nadu. I am extremely confident that Annamalai's popularity and his campaign all across Tamil Nadu will translate into victory for the BJP candidates all across the state," he said.

Meanwhile, K Annamalai said that he will continue to campaign for the upcoming assembly polls despite being absent from the party's candidate list in Tamil Nadu, calling it his "responsibility."

Speaking with the mediapersons in Keralam's Kannur after a public meeting here, Annamalai described campaigning in Puducherry, Kerala and Tamil Nadu for the BJP as his "role" in the upcoming elections.

"... In this election, my role is to campaign for candidates across Tamil Nadu. Right now, the party has given me the responsibility to campaign in Puducherry and Kerala till the 7th (April). From the 7th to the 23rd, I have to campaign for all BJP and NDA candidates across Tamil Nadu. That is the responsibility given by the party to me. I'll be fulfilling that responsibility," he said.

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 main electoral contest in the State is expected between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK)-led Secular Progressive Alliance (SPA), and the NDA led by AIADMK. However, actor-turned-politician Vijay will look to turn it into a three-way contest.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

P
Priya S
Maybe the party has a bigger national role planned for him? He is young and very popular. Using him for campaigning across three states (TN, Kerala, Puducherry) shows they value his oratory skills. Sometimes the best player is kept as the 12th man for the team's strategy. 🤔
S
Suresh O
Respectfully, I disagree with this decision. Annamalai Anna connected with the youth and was a tireless worker. Fielding him from a strong seat would have energized the cadre. Simply calling it a "High Command" decision doesn't address the concerns of many supporters.
A
Anjali F
Internal dynamics and alliance math with AIADMK might be at play. BJP has to respect its senior ally's wishes in some constituencies. Annamalai's aggression, while popular with us, might not suit the delicate coalition politics. His campaigning role is crucial nonetheless!
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Michael C
Watching from abroad, this seems like a classic political strategy. They're deploying their most charismatic campaigner where he can have the widest impact, rather than tying him down to one constituency. If he can swing votes across the state, that's more valuable than one seat.
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Karthik V
True leadership is accepting the party's decision gracefully, which Annamalai seems to be doing. "Singham" will roar on the campaign trail! His energy is needed to counter the DMK narrative. The real test is on April 23rd. Let's support all NDA candidates. 💪

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