Annamalai clears air on Tamil Nadu polls absence, says ‘I chose not to contest’

Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai recently firmly rejected speculation that he was denied a ticket for the upcoming Assembly elections, asserting that his absence from the candidate list was a conscious personal decision.

Breaking his silence a day after the BJP released its list of 27 candidates under the AIADMK-led NDA, Annamalai said he had already informed the party leadership of his decision in writing. “I have already communicated to the core committee that I will not contest from any constituency. It is not that I was denied a ticket—the truth is that I did not want to contest,” he said while speaking to reporters in Chennai.

Questioning the narrative around his exclusion, Annamalai added, “How can the leadership allocate a seat to me when I have clearly opted out?” He said the clarification was necessary as the issue had gained traction in media discussions.

The BJP leader also expressed gratitude to the central leadership for respecting his decision and said he would actively campaign for NDA candidates in the state. He reiterated his commitment to strengthening the alliance’s prospects in the high-stakes election.

Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Chennai, Annamalai said the PM is expected to meet party functionaries after wrapping up engagements in Puducherry, before heading to Kochi to campaign further for the BJP-led alliance.

His absence from the candidate list had triggered speculation, especially as his name was earlier linked to constituencies in Coimbatore. Sources indicated that unease over seat-sharing arrangements within the NDA may have influenced his decision. The AIADMK, led by Edappadi K Palaniswami, reportedly retained key constituencies in the Coimbatore region—areas considered strategically significant for the BJP.

According to sources, the 41-year-old leader had written to the party’s central leadership highlighting concerns over seat allocation. He was also believed to have pushed for the Singanallur seat for the BJP, a demand that did not materialise.

Polling for the 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly is scheduled for April 23, setting the stage for a closely watched electoral contest in the state.