Annamalai to Campaign Across South Despite BJP Candidate List Snub

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 on the BJP's candidates list.

Speaking with the mediapersons in Keralam's Kannnur 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.

Annamalai was campaigning for the BJP candidate from Kannur, C Raghunath.

Earlier in the day, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, after negotiations within the NDA alliance.

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 list.

Contrary to expectations, Annamalai congratulated the 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 Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl, India has moved forward with strength, scale, and purpose," he wrote in a post on X.

Hitting out at the incumbent state government, Annamalai accused DMK of being a "failed, arrogant, and self-serving" administration holding back Tamil Nadu. He further extended his support for the party and the candidates as a "karyakarta" in the upcoming elections.

"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 wrote, attaching the list of selected candidates.

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.

Last year, the current BJP president, Nainar Naginthiran, replaced K Annamalai as the state party chief, as nomination for the post was received only from Nagenthiran.

Notably, Annamalai, the former IPS officer, is a key figure in the party's aggressive expansion strategy in South India. He's often seen as a direct representative of PM Narendra Modi's vision, frequently appearing alongside him at major rallies.

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