Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Mar 27: Senior BJP leader K Annamalai is unlikely to contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, with sources indicating that he has conveyed his decision to the party leadership.

The development comes amid growing discontent within the Bharatiya Janata Party over its seat-sharing arrangement with alliance partner AIADMK. Party cadres staged a protest in Kinathukadavu, expressing dissatisfaction over the allocation of constituencies.

As per the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) agreement, the AIADMK will contest 169 out of 234 seats, while the BJP has been allotted 27. Other allies include PMK with 18 seats and AMMK with 11 seats.

Responding to the political developments, Union Minister Piyush Goyal said voters in Tamil Nadu would reject the DMK-Congress alliance in the upcoming polls, similar to electoral outcomes in other states.

He accused the DMK-led government of poor economic management and actions detrimental to Tamil culture, asserting that people are disillusioned with both the DMK and Indian National Congress.

Elections to the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly will be held in a single phase on April 23, while neighbouring Puducherry will go to polls for its 30 seats on April 9.