New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday announced its first list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, scheduled to be held on April 23. Interestingly, former state party chief Annamalai’s name is not part of the list.

Union Minister L Murugan has been fielded from the Avanashi constituency, while former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan will contest from Mylapore, according to the list released by the party.

BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan has been nominated from Coimbatore (North). Among other key candidates, the party has fielded Kirthika Shivkumar from Modakkurichi, S Vijayadharani from Vilavancode, and Nagesh Kumar from Thalli.

The BJP is looking to strengthen its presence in the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly, with the first list reflecting a mix of prominent leaders and fresh faces.

Annamalai K has made commendable achievements in taking Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies to the people or taking the party's projects village by village in the state. The party's top brass leadership, such as Home Minister Amir Shah, has on many occasions stated that the BJP will utilise Annamalai's organisational skills in the party's national structure.

Last year, the current BJP president, Nainar Naginthiran, replaced K Annamalai as the state party chief, as nomination for the post was received only from Nagenthiran.

Contrary to expectations, Annamalai congratulated the candidates announced for the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. "They carry the support of every brother & sister of TN who is tired of corruption, complacency, and the DMK's betrayal. Under the visionary leadership of our Hon PM Thiru @narendramodi avl, India has moved forward with strength, scale, and purpose," he said in an X post.

Meanwhile, DMK MP Kanimozhi Karunanidhi on Friday said political parties aligning with the BJP face a bleak future, labelling the AIADMK's ties with the saffron party a "betrayal alliance" that deceives both the state and its own cadre.

Campaigning in the Nilakottai Assembly constituency for DMK candidate Nagajyothi, Kanimozhi dismissed allegations from the AIADMK-BJP combine that the DMK is anti-Hindu.

She countered the claim by highlighting the state government's initiatives in this regard, noting that consecration ceremonies (Kudamuzhukku) have been performed for over 4,000 temples under the current administration.