According to sources, Nainar Nagendran is the leading contender for the post since current state unit President K Annamalai had ruled himself out of the race.
Published Apr 11, 2025 | 9:00 AM ⚊ Updated Apr 11, 2025 | 4:38 PM
Nainar Nagendran and K Annamalai.
Synopsis: The Tamil Nadu BJP leadership change is at a critical point. With eligibility rules complicating the race, Nainar Nagendran is widely expected to be appointed the new state president, mainly to revive an alliance with the AIADMK. However, K Annamalai’s camp is resisting, making the final decision highly suspenseful ahead of Amit Shah’s Chennai visit.
The suspense regarding the appointment of the next Tamil Nadu BJP president has become a hot topic in political circles in the state. With Union Home Minister Amit Shah scheduled to visit Chennai on Friday, 11 April, it is widely expected that an official announcement regarding the Tamil Nadu BJP leadership will be made within the next couple of days.
According to sources, Nainar Nagendran is the leading contender for the post since current state unit President K Annamalai had ruled himself out of the race.
Meanwhile, on Thursday evening, the saffron party announced an election for the position of Tamil Nadu BJP president and other organisational posts in the state unit of the party.
According to the announcement, those aspiring to contest for the post of state president must fill out Form F. The aspirants must have served as active members of the party for three terms and as basic members for at least ten years. Additionally, the candidate must be endorsed, in writing, by ten elected members of the state General Council.
However, both Annamalai and Nagendran do not meet the “minimum ten years of primary membership” requirement. This development significantly alters the dynamics of the race for the top post.
When Annamalai — a former IPS officer — resigned from government service and joined the BJP, he was appointed the party’s state president within a few years. It was widely believed at the time that this decision was made directly by BJP National General Secretary (Organisation) BL Santhosh, without broad consultation with Tamil Nadu BJP leaders.
Now, the leadership controversy has resurfaced. However, this time, it raises not only the question of who should be president but also the deeper question of why.
Sources from political circles suggest that if the BJP wishes to reestablish an alliance with the AIADMK, Annamalai cannot continue as the state president — a condition reportedly placed by the AIADMK leadership.
During the recent meetings with the saffron party’s leadership in Delhi, the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK faction conveyed this message directly to Amit Shah, BJP sources, connected to their IT wing, told South First.
Rumours about Annamalai’s impending removal had been circulating for several days. However, Annamalai had recently told the media repeatedly that he was not contesting for the state president position, which further fuelled speculation.
Typically, leadership changes are not discussed openly by the BJP until an official announcement is made. However, Annamalai’s public assertions that he is not in the race raised eyebrows, suggesting he might be disillusioned with the situation.
In this backdrop, Nagendran — representing Tirunelveli in the state Assembly — has been camping in Delhi for the past three days.
According to the election notification, candidates must download the application form from the party’s website and submit it at the state headquarters between 2 pm and 4 pm on Friday.
While party rules mandate at least ten years of primary membership to contest, Nagendran has only eight. Despite this, highly placed sources within the BJP indicated that an exception might be made specifically for him to take over the leadership role.
Sources further suggested that the BJP central leadership has already decided to appoint Nagendran as its new Tamil Nadu president. Meanwhile, Annamalai may be offered a position in the Union government, similar to how L Murugan was earlier accommodated.
Nainar Nagendran had long served as a senior leader within the AIADMK, notably holding portfolios such as the state minister of Electricity and minister of Industries between 2001 and 2006. He was elected twice as an MLA representing the AIADMK. However, he lost the 2016 Assembly election and joined the BJP in 2019.
Though he contested the 2019 Lok Sabha elections from the Ramanathapuram constituency and lost, he won the 2021 Assembly election from the Tirunelveli constituency as part of the AIADMK-BJP alliance.
AIADMK sources reportedly conveyed to the BJP that they would have no objection to an alliance if Nagendran were the state president. The BJP leadership, in turn, sees Nagendran as a key figure who could negotiate with the AIADMK and help secure winnable constituencies for the BJP. His past association with the AIADMK is viewed as an asset for smooth alliance talks.
It is thus reliably reported that the BJP’s national leadership has finalised the decision to appoint Nagendran as Tamil Nadu BJP president. However, since sidelining Annamalai without offering him a suitable role would be politically sensitive, plans are reportedly underway to accommodate him in the Union government.
Amit Shah is scheduled to meet senior figures like S Gurumurthy during his Chennai visit and it is anticipated that the official announcement of the new state president could be made as early as 13 April. A major event to mark the new appointment has already been planned at a key wedding hall in Arumbakkam in Chennai.
Meanwhile, sources close to Annamalai paint a different picture. They claim that, for the first time in the BJP’s history, the national leadership is actively trying to persuade a state president.
Annamalai is reportedly firm in his stance against reviving an alliance with the AIADMK and the BJP does not want to lose him, creating a delicate situation.
According to sources, intense negotiations will continue day and night over the next two to three days. The meeting between Amit Shah and Gurumurthy is expected to address this issue.
Gurumurthy, who has publicly supported Annamalai, is expected to push Amit Shah to extend Annamalai’s term. If Amit Shah accepts Gurumurthy’s recommendation, Annamalai could continue as president — but then, there would likely be no alliance with the AIADMK.
If that does not happen, Annamalai would likely be offered a senior position.
Additionally, it is said that during a previous visit to Delhi, Annamalai presented detailed data to the BJP leadership highlighting where the party had matched or even outperformed the AIADMK in vote share, and in which constituencies it held competitive strength. Based on this data, decisions on whether to contest alone or form an alliance are being considered.
Concerns remain within the BJP leadership that if the party contests alone, it might benefit the DMK. However, an official announcement regarding the Tamil Nadu BJP president can be expected within the next few days.
(Edited by Muhammed Fazil.)
