Amid speculation about the absence of K. About the BJP’s list of candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Annamalai on Saturday clarified that the decision was his.
Speaking to reporters at the Chennai airport, the former state BJP president said he “was not denied a ticket, but chose not to contest,” news agency ANI reported.
He said he had already informed the party leadership in writing of his decision to stay away from the electoral fray and campaign for the National Democratic Alliance. He thanked the leadership and said that he was “grateful” that his choice was respected.
The clarification came a day after the BJP released its first list of 27 candidates. Annamalai – widely seen as the party’s main face in the state – has been noticeably missing, sparking speculation that he has been sidelined, especially after the BJP renewed its alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK).
“How can driving assign me a ticket?”
Addressing the controversy directly, Annamalai said: “Since this has become a topic of media discussion, I am making it clear here, when I have not shown any interest in contesting, how can the leadership allot me a ticket?”
He added: “If I decide to compete, it will not matter which constituency I can compete in from anywhere.”
“I have already informed the core committee in writing that I will not contest in any constituency. So, it does not mean that I have been denied a ticket; the fact is that I have chosen not to contest the elections,” Annamalai was quoted as saying by PTI.
The BJP’s ‘Singam’ is missing
Annamalai, popularly known as ‘Singam’ due to his stint as an IPS officer in Karnataka, rose rapidly within the BJP after taking over as its Tamil Nadu unit president in 2021. He spearheaded organizing efforts and spearheaded awareness campaigns, including the ‘In Man, In Makkal’ yatra, ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
In the latest list, the party fielded several prominent leaders, including Tamilisai Sundararajan, Vanathi Srinivasan and Union Minister L Murugan, but Singham remained absent.
The BJP and AIADMK had earlier parted ways after K Annamalai’s remarks on CN Annadurai sparked a row.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP entered solo in the state and managed to raise its vote share to 11 per cent but failed to win any seats. Subsequently, Annamalai stepped down as head of state, and Nainar Nagendran took over.
Eventually, the BJP and AIADMK renewed their alliance in 2025.
Tamilnadu polls
The BJP is contesting 27 seats as part of the AIADMK-led NDA alliance, which will field candidates in 169 of the 234 constituencies. Other allies include PMK (18 seats), AMMK (11), Tamil Manila Congress (5), IJK (1) and Purachi Bharatam (1).
Elections in Tamil Nadu are scheduled to be held in a single phase on April 23, and the counting of votes is scheduled to take place on May 4.
The main battle is expected to be between the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the AIADMK-led NDA. However, actor-turned-politician Vijay is also looking to make an impact, raising the possibility of a more triangular contest in the state.
