Even as the BJP maintains a stoic silence, opinions are divided on whether the party would replace Annamalai, who is going to the UK this month-end.
Published Aug 07, 2024 | 8:00 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 07, 2024 | 8:00 PM
Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai. (Supplied)
The BJP is playing its cards close to its heart as the party’s Tamil Nadu unit president K Annamalai is set to leave the country for six months to pursue a course in London.
Though political circles are abuzz with rumours that either Vanathi Srinivasan or Nayanar Nagendran might take up the reins in Tamil Nadu, the party has not revealed its plans regarding Annamalai’s successor.
Annamalai, considered close to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah became the party president on 8 July 2021. He had actively tried to corner DMK, questioning many of its policies.
He even released tapes, ‘DMK Files’, levelling charges of corruption against senior DMK leaders. However, his strategy did not pay off, and the BJP failed to get even a toehold in Tamil Nadu in the recent Lok Sabha polls.
Additionally, the AIADMK held him responsible for the split in the alliance. Even before the general elections, there were talks that the central leadership might replace Annamalai.
Annamalai, a former IPS officer, is among the 12 people from India selected for the Chevening Gurukul Fellowship for Leadership and Excellence programme. The BJP leader is slated to leave for the United Kingdom on 28 August.
Meanwhile, speculations are rife that MLAs Vanathi Srinivasan or Nayanar Nagendran would replace Annamalai.
However, the BJP has remained mum over whether it would go for a permanent state president or an interim chief till Annamalai’s return.
Vanathi Srinivasan, a long-time BJP leader, belongs to the Kongu region where the party has a significant vote bank. She has repeatedly talked about the BJP in the Assembly. The central leadership, too, holds her in high esteem. She is currently the national president of Mahila Morcha, the women’s wing of the BJP.
Nagendran, who hails from Tirunelveli, holds considerable clout in south Tamil Nadu. A section of leaders also feel that he could strengthen the party at the branch level.
Incidentally, an amount of ₹3.98 crore was seized from a Tirunelveli-bound train on 6 April. The cash was reportedly meant to fund Nagendran’s campaign, an allegation which he summarily rejected.
“There is nothing official so far about a change in Tamil Nadu BJP state president,” the party’s state vice-president Karu Nagarajan said. “The BJP is a national party. Decisions will be made at the national level. We know nothing,” he stated, adding that the central leadership was not miffed with Annamalai.
BJP’s state media wing coordinator ANS Prasad said that there was not even a one percent chance to replace Annamalai.
“Annamalai is our future. Delhi is also aware of it,” he said.
Political analyst Professor Gladson Xavier said Tamil Nadu has no place in the BJP’s scheme of things. He expressed doubt whether the party would immediately change its state president.
“Annamalai is seen as the leader who kept the BJP in the limelight,” he said.
While most BJP leaders in Tamil Nadu have been active in politics for long, Annamalai came from a government job. He has been effective so far.
Another political analyst, Ravindran Duraisamy, said those opposed to Annamalai were behind the rumours of an imminent change in leadership.
Annamalai has been a value addition for Modi. He tripled the party’s vote share after taking over the mantle from Tamilisai Soundararajan.
Compared to previous elections, the BJP secured a double-digit vote share in the parliamentary elections.
The party’s vote share increased from 3.66 percent in 2019, when it contested five seats, to 10.72 percent in 2024 when it contested 24.
Duraisamy saw no possibility of changing Annamalai. A clear picture, however, is likely to emerge in a few days.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
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