Annamalai Steps Down as Tamil Nadu BJP Chief, Set for Key National Role Ahead of 2026 Elections

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Chennai: Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday announced that K Annamalai, the outgoing President of the Tamil Nadu BJP, will be entrusted with important responsibilities at the national level. Speaking at a joint press conference with AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami in Chennai, Shah confirmed that the BJP will fight the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections under the NDA alliance. The announcement comes amidst a leadership change within the Tamil Nadu BJP, with Tamil Nadu BJP Vice President Nainar Nagenthiran set to take over as the new State President. Nagenthiran, a former AIADMK leader, was the sole nominee for the position, and his appointment was confirmed by Shah in a statement.

Shah also took to social media to praise Annamalai’s work during his tenure as State President. “The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of state president only from Shri @NainarBJP Ji. 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 organisational skills in the party’s national framework,” Shah wrote.

In April, Annamalai had publicly stated that he was “not in the race” for re-election as state BJP chief. “There is no contest in Tamil Nadu BJP; we will select a leader unanimously. But I am not in the race. I am not in the BJP state leadership race,” Annamalai had told reporters. This leadership transition comes as the BJP and its ally AIADMK are gearing up for the 2026 Assembly elections, aiming to strengthen their position in Tamil Nadu, where the AIADMK has struggled in recent polls.

The AIADMK, which entered into an alliance with the BJP after the passing of J Jayalalithaa in 2016, has faced challenges in maintaining its political strength

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