- By Raju Kumar
- Sat, 12 Apr 2025 08:14 AM (IST)
- Source:JND
Union Home Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Shah, on a lighter note, said K Annamalai still holds the post (of Tamil Nadu party chief). Shah asserted that the BJP will leverage Annamalai's organisational skills in the party's national framework.
Addressing a joint press conference with AIADMK's Edappadi K Palaniswami and Annamalai sitting next to him in Chennai, he said that BJP will fight the 2026 Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu under the NDA alliance.
When Shah was asked about reports of Annamalai being removed because Edapaddi K Palaniswami did not want the alliance until former IPS is not steped down. Shah replied, "This is not true at all. Annamalai is the state president even today." Smiling Shah's reply unfolded laughters at the press conference. He asserted, "That is why he is sitting with me".
Tamilnadu BJP and Annamalai. Home Minister Amit Shah holds NDA Press Conference in Chennai.
— AwakeHindu (Modi ka bada Bhai) (@vyasa1968) April 11, 2025
Amit Shah makes an affectionate physical gesture on rock star Annamalai during the meeting. Watch this small clip.
Annamalai will forever be a BJP star. Never discount the same, he has… pic.twitter.com/UfUsb4MLdu
Nainar Nagenthiran to replace Annamalai
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu BJP Vice president Nainar Nagenthiran is set to replace Annamalai. Nagenthiran who was formerly with the AIADMK, was the sole nominee for the post. Earlier, Shah confirmed Nagenthiran's appointment in a statement.
BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu have always been highly critical of the DMK and former IPS official K Annamalai, who became the party state president in 2021, was no exception. He sustained the tempo.
Annamalai, who served as party president for four years, was among the ten leaders from the state who proposed the name of Nainar Nagendran for the president's position on Friday.
The 40-year-old police official-turned politician is known for his 'En Mann En Makkal' (My Land, My People) yatra in the state. As has been a tradition in the party, his immediate predecessor and present Union Minister L Murugan undertook a 'Vel yatra' and in the past former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan took out a 'Thamarai yatra' across the state.
Annamalai made his electoral debut in the 2021 Assembly election from Aravakurichi constituency in Karur district and lost. He unsuccessfully contested in the 2024 Lok Sabha election.
(With PTI inputs)
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