Amit Shah Dismisses Rumours of Annamalai’s Removal as Tamil Nadu BJP Chief Amid Leadership Change

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) announced Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli MLA, Nainar Nagendran, as the next state BJP president, succeeding K Annamalai.

Amidst this leadership change, Union Home Minister Amit Shah addressed the widespread speculation surrounding Annamalai’s role.

Amit Shah Clarifies Annamalai’s Role

During his statement, Amit Shah directly addressed rumours about Annamalai’s alleged removal over his stance on an alliance with Edappadi K Palaniswami’s AIADMK.

Dismissing these reports, Shah said, “This is not true at all.” Gesturing toward Annamalai seated next to him, he added, “Mr Annamalai is the state president even today and that is why he is sitting with me.”

Shah also officially confirmed the alliance between the BJP and AIADMK for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

He stated, “The leaders of AIADMK and BJP have decided to fight next Tamil Nadu Assembly polls along with allies under the NDA banner. This election will be fought at the national level under Narendra Modi’s leadership and AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami at the state level.”

The BJP-AIADMK Alliance: Historical and Strategic

Highlighting the long-standing alliance between BJP and AIADMK, Shah recalled, “Since 1998, the AIADMK has been part of the NDA alliance and for a long time, PM Modi ji and the great (late CM) Jayalalithaa ji had worked in national politics together.”

Citing past successes, he noted, “At one point of time, this alliance had won 30 out of the 39 seats in the general elections. I am confident NDA will get a massive majority and form NDA government in Tamil Nadu.”

Shah didn’t miss the chance to critique the ruling DMK government. He accused it of attempting to divert public attention by raising issues such as delimitation, NEET, and the three-language policy.

DMK Under Fire for Corruption Allegations

The Union Home Minister listed various corruption allegations against the DMK government under Chief Minister M K Stalin.

“The DMK government in Tamil Nadu is plagued by rampant corruption, atrocities against Dalits and women, and a complete breakdown of law and order,” he said.

Shah pointed to several alleged scams including the Rs 39,000 crore liquor scam, sand mining scam, energy scam, transport scam, and others such as illegal raids, smuggling, and MGNREGA-related irregularities.

He added, “The people of Tamil Nadu will vote in the upcoming elections with these issues in mind. The public is now demanding answers from Stalin and (his son and deputy CM) Udhayanidhi on corruption.”

AIADMK’s Return to NDA Raises Questions

In a surprising political turn, AIADMK rejoined the BJP-led NDA alliance on April 11, just months after cutting ties due to Annamalai’s controversial comments. The party had previously celebrated the separation as their “happiest moment.”

This reversal prompted speculation—was AIADMK’s return conditional on Annamalai’s removal?

Was Annamalai’s Exit a Bargain for the Alliance?

Reports suggested that tensions rose when Annamalai criticised AIADMK leaders and expressed the desire for BJP to contest alone in Tamil Nadu.

Allegedly, during a meeting with Amit Shah, Edappadi Palaniswami insisted on Annamalai’s removal as a condition for renewing the alliance.

The friction deepened after Annamalai’s remarks against AIADMK icons like Annadurai and J Jayalalithaa. These comments were perceived as the final blow to the alliance, which eventually led to AIADMK’s departure—until their sudden return.

Amit Shah Denies Leadership Change Speculation

Despite the swirling rumours, Amit Shah stood firm. Flanked by both Annamalai and Palaniswami, he reiterated, “This is not true at all. Mr Annamalai is the state president even today. That is why he is sitting with me.”

When asked about Annamalai’s future within the party, Shah replied, “Leave a few things to our party as well. Don’t worry about my party so much, we will run it well.”

A National Role for Annamalai

Shah later clarified that the BJP envisions a larger role for Annamalai at the national level. “As the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Shri @annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. Whether it is carrying the policies of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji to people or the programs of the party from village to village, Annamalai Ji’s contribution has been unprecedented. The BJP will leverage Annamalai Ji’s organizational skills in the party’s national framework.”

Annamalai, a former IPS officer, made his electoral debut in the 2021 Assembly election from Aravakurichi and later contested the 2024 Lok Sabha polls—both unsuccessfully.

However, his tenure as BJP state president earned him credit for significantly increasing the party’s visibility in Tamil Nadu.