Annamalai objects to BJP seat allocations in Tamil Nadu
Annamalai objects to BJP seat allocations in Tamil Nadu
Former BJP Tamil Nadu chief Annamalai protests AIADMK's seat-sharing, opts not to contest but pledges to back NDA candidates.
Former BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai has conveyed extreme displeasure over the constituencies allocated by AIADMK for the April 23 Assembly elections. He has also reportedly asked the party leadership not to identify any seat for him as he has decided against contesting. Still, he said he would continue to work as a party karyakarta for all BJP and NDA candidates, underscoring his commitment to the alliance while stepping back from a direct electoral contest.
According to insiders, Annamalai argued that the BJP’s choices were constrained by the condition that it could not seek seats represented by AIADMK MLAs. He reportedly told the leadership that the seats offered to the BJP did not align with where the party, or the NDA, could grow. He pointed out that seats such as Tiruvannamalai would be more advantageous to the ruling DMK, highlighting a perceived imbalance in the seat-sharing arrangement. He also noted that other allies, including TMC(M) and the Indiya Jananayaka Katchi, were allotted seats he deemed unfavourable, while Rajapalayam, a general constituency connected to the Tamizhaga Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam, was among those allocated.
Annamalai is said to have told the leadership he would meet them on May 4, after the election results are declared, to take a final decision. When contacted, he reaffirmed his stance, stressing his loyalty to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah while not elaborating further on the detailed seat-by-seat critique. The comments come as the AIADMK-led NDA releases its first list of candidates for Tamil Nadu, highlighting the ongoing jockeying within the alliance as it positions for the 2026 Assembly polls.
For BJP supporters in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai’s comments signal a prioritization of party discipline and broader NDA participation over personal electoral targets, even as questions linger about how such internal dissent will affect the coalition’s local prospects ahead of the crucial statewide vote.
