Annamalai opts out of TN polls, chooses campaign role for NDA

Amid speculation over his absence from the electoral fray , former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai on Saturday clarified that his decision to stay out of the April 23 Assembly elections was entirely voluntary , asserting that he had opted to focus on campaigning for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) .

Addressing reporters upon his arrival in Chennai from Kannur, Annamalai said, “I am not in the race or list. In this election, my role is to campaign for the candidates across Tamil Nadu.” He added that the party had assigned him campaign responsibilities in Puducherry and Kerala until April 7, after which he would campaign across Tamil Nadu until polling day.

Putting to rest speculation that he had been denied a ticket, Annamalai stated, “I have already informed the core committee in writing that I will not contest from any constituency. Even the list of probable candidates sent to the high command did not contain my name.” He further said he had communicated his decision to senior party leaders earlier.

The former IPS officer-turned-politician reiterated his commitment to the party, saying, “As a karyakarta, I will stand shoulder to shoulder and campaign for all our BJP and NDA candidates, with the aim of the NDA winning 210 seats.” He also expressed gratitude to the leadership for respecting his decision and entrusting him with campaign responsibilities.

Annamalai, who rose rapidly within the party ranks after joining the BJP, had earlier contested the 2021 Assembly elections from Aravakurichi and the 2024 Lok Sabha polls from Coimbatore, but was unsuccessful in both.

Meanwhile, Union Minister Piyush Goyal dismissed reports of internal discord, describing Annamalai as a “disciplined soldier” of the party. He also termed a recent meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “casual conversation,” where leaders discussed strategy and the goal of securing victory across all 234 constituencies.

Goyal also refuted claims that a proposed roadshow in Chennai had been cancelled, calling such reports baseless. He added that the Prime Minister’s visit was primarily for a roadshow in Puducherry, with Chennai serving only as a transit point.

The BJP, contesting as part of the NDA led by the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu, has been allotted 27 seats under the alliance’s seat-sharing arrangement. Tamil Nadu will vote for its 234-member Assembly on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4.