Tamil Nadu election 2026: The big Annamalai question — what BJP gains, what it risks | India News
New Delhi: Veteran BJP leader K Annamalai on Saturday clarified that he has not been denied a ticket for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, saying he has decided not to contest himself and will instead focus on campaigning for the party and its allies.“I had already informed the core committee in writing that I will not contest any seat. So, it is not that I have been denied ticket, the fact is that I have decided not to contest the election,” Annamalai told reporters at the Chennai airport.The clarification comes a day after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) released its first list of 27 candidates for the April 23 assembly polls, with Annamalai’s absence attracting attention in political circles.
Annamalai said that he will take up a broad organizational role during the elections during the BJP’s campaign across multiple states.“…In this election, my role is to campaign candidates across Tamil Nadu. Right now, the party has given me the responsibility to campaign in Puducherry and Kerala till 7th (April). From 7th to 23rd, I have to campaign all BJP and NDA candidates across Tamil Nadu. That’s the responsibility given to me by the party. I will fulfill that responsibility.” he saidHe also expressed gratitude to the party leadership for accepting his decision.“When I did not express my interest to contest, how could the leadership allocate me a ticket? If I had decided to contest, it did not matter from which seat I could have contested. I am grateful to the BJP leadership for respecting my decision and giving me the opportunity to campaign in support of the NDA alliance candidates,” he added.However, there were reports that Annamalai had conveyed to the party’s national leadership his “extreme” displeasure over the constituencies allotted to the national party by the AIADMK.Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran termed Annamalai’s absence from the candidate list as a leadership call.“It is the High Command’s decision…,” Nagendran said, expressing confidence in the party’s candidates. “This time 27 candidates must win.”Despite not contesting, Annamalai has been at the center of BJP’s campaign strategy. BJP MP Tejashwi Surya said his popularity would benefit the party across the state.“Annamalai is the most popular BJP leader not only in Tamil Nadu, commanding a large following across the country. She has been entrusted with campaigning for all the candidates in Tamil Nadu. I am very confident that Annamalai’s popularity and his campaign across Tamil Nadu will translate into victory for BJP candidates across the state,” Surya said.The BJP’s candidate list includes senior leaders like Tamilisai Sundararajan from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore North and Union Minister L Murugan from Avinashi.Annamalai, a former IPS officer known as “Singham”, served as Tamil Nadu BJP president before succeeding Nagendran. He was instrumental in expanding the party’s presence in the state and spearheaded campaign initiatives such as the “En Mon, En Makkal” yatra.The BJP is contesting the elections as part of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in the state. Under the alliance arrangement, the AIADMK will contest 169 of the 234 seats, while the BJP will contest 27 seats with other alliances.Tamil Nadu will vote in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. Actor-politician Vijay will also enter the fray, with the main contest expected to be between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the NDA.Why this move could work in BJP’s favourAnnamalai is exempt from election-phase responsibilities, allowing him to campaign extensively in multiple regions. His role as a star campaigner strengthened the BJP’s campaign across Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.It also helps the BJP push for a stable alliance with the AIADMK His absence eased friction with Edappadi K Palaniswami, facilitating smooth coalition coordination.Annamalai was known for his harsh criticism of AIADMK and DMK. Subsequently, the EPS made Annamalai’s ouster from state politics a precondition for coalition talks ahead of the polls.Nainar Nagendran’s transfer of leadership indicates a more alliance-friendly and structured approach. This allows the party to project a unified command and avoid internal conflicts during elections.What can go against BJP?Annamalai’s absence from the ballot could demoralize Trinamool workers who see him as a key leader. The BJP risks undermining its independent “third force” narrative in Tamil Nadu politics.His aggressive campaign style, which appealed to young voters, may not have fully translated into him being uncontested. The move could create confusion among voters about the direction of the party leadership in the state.This can be seen as giving place to BJP AIADMK within the coalition structure. The lack of strong faces as candidates can also affect the electoral momentum at the local level.
