Nainar Nagendran all set to take charge as TN BJP chief; Annamalai to step into national role
Chennai: BJP MLA from Tirunelveli, Nainar Nagendran, is on course to becoming the next president of the party’s Tamil Nadu unit, succeeding K Annamalai, who is being elevated to a national role in recognition of his performance in the state.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who was in Chennai to assess the party's preparations and alliance dynamics ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, acknowledged Annamalai’s contributions, calling them “commendable.”
“The Tamil Nadu BJP has received only one nomination for the post of state president—Shri @NainarBJP Ji. As President of the Tamil Nadu BJP, Shri @annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. His efforts in taking Prime Minister Shri @narendramodi Ji’s vision and the party’s programmes to the grassroots have been exceptional,” Shah noted in a post on social media. He added that Annamalai’s organisational skills will now be utilised at the national level.
Nagendran, currently serving as the state BJP’s vice president and a former AIADMK member, was the first to file his nomination at the party headquarters, Kamalalayam, in T Nagar. Backed by the central leadership, he was the sole candidate in the fray.
His nomination was proposed by Annamalai, Union Minister L Murugan, former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, and BJP MLA and Mahila Morcha chief Vanathi Srinivasan. An official announcement confirming his appointment as state president is expected shortly.
Meanwhile, Shah, who had initially scheduled his meeting with RSS ideologue and Thuglak magazine editor S Gurumurthy for the evening, arrived at the journalist’s Mylapore residence earlier than expected. The discussion, which lasted nearly an hour, was held in the presence of Union Minister L Murugan and current state BJP chief K Annamalai.
The sudden advancement of Shah’s programme surprised many BJP state leaders and fuelled further talk of imminent organisational changes.
A senior BJP leader said, “Though we make the announcement for receiving nominations from party aspirants, usually only those backed by the party submit their forms. Invariably, it might be one person,” indicating a clear signal from the party high command.
Meanwhile, the BJP’s ally, the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), underwent a leadership reshuffle ahead of Shah’s visit. PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss reclaimed the party presidency, appointing his son, former Union Minister Dr Anbumani Ramadoss, as working president. While Anbumani is believed to have favoured a poll tie-up with the BJP for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ramadoss Sr is seen as inclined towards remaining within the AIADMK-led alliance.
The AIADMK has maintained a cautious stance, stating that any decision on alliance realignment would be taken at the appropriate time.
A BJP functionary familiar with internal discussions observed, “Gurumurthy is known to favour poll ties with the AIADMK. But it is ultimately the BJP high command that decides on the alliance.”
With Nagendran now officially in the race and Shah’s high-level interactions in the city, the possibility of a leadership transition in the Tamil Nadu BJP has gained considerable momentum.
PTI