Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai

Chennai, Feb 3: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai’s decision to step down from key election responsibilities has triggered intense political chatter in the state, with speculation mounting over his future political course amid the rising prominence of actor Vijay’s Tamizhaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK).

Annamalai, a former IPS officer and one of the BJP’s most recognisable faces in Tamil Nadu, has relinquished his role as the party’s election-in-charge for six assembly constituencies, citing his father’s ill health. He was overseeing election-related work in Singanallur, Madurai South, Virugambakkam, Karaikudi, Srivaikundam and Padmanabhapuram ahead of the upcoming assembly elections.

Speaking to the media, Annamalai said frequent travel was not possible due to his father’s medical condition. “Taking care of my father is my first duty. I have requested state BJP president Nainar Nagendran to reassign the constituencies currently under my charge. The party will consider the request and reallocate responsibilities accordingly,” he said, adding that he would continue to campaign for the BJP despite stepping down from the organisational role.

While the BJP has maintained that the move is purely personal, Annamalai’s decision has fuelled political speculation, particularly in the backdrop of the party’s poor performance in the last Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, where it failed to win any seats. Annamalai himself suffered a heavy defeat from the Coimbatore parliamentary constituency.

The developments also come against the backdrop of the AIADMK exiting the NDA in 2023 following differences with Annamalai. During subsequent efforts to revive the alliance, Annamalai was replaced as state BJP president, with Nainar Nagendran MLA taking over the post. Union home minister Amit Shah had earlier stated that Annamalai’s services were needed at the national level, though he was not later assigned any major organisational role.

Adding to the political buzz is Annamalai’s recent public stance during a stampede incident at a TVK rally in Karur. Unlike the usual political blame game, Annamalai adopted a measured tone, drawing attention to alleged security lapses by the Tamil Nadu police. He accused the police of failing to manage crowds despite prior warnings and demanded a CBI probe into the incident, while clarifying that he was not directly blaming Vijay, who was addressing the rally at the time.

Annamalai’s remarks, which included criticism of the DMK government over repeated crowd management failures, went viral among Vijay’s supporters. His apparent support for Vijay during the controversy, coupled with TVK’s announcement that it will contest the 2026 assembly elections, has intensified speculation over whether Annamalai could align with the new political outfit in the future.

Despite setbacks and shifting roles within the BJP, Annamalai continues to command significant public attention and remains a crowd-puller in Tamil Nadu politics, ensuring that his next move will be closely watched across the political spectrum.