Tamil Nadu Politics Heats Up: Annamalai Bows to Party Line, Endorses EPS as NDA’s CM Face

Chennai: Chennai witnessed a dramatic political shift on Saturday as former BJP Tamil Nadu president K. Annamalai publicly reconciled with AIADMK General Secretary Edappadi K. Palanisamy (EPS), declaring him the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate for 2026.

The event, held to pay tribute to late Tamil Maanila Congress leader G.K. Moopanar, turned into a political spectacle when Annamalai—who until recently had strongly resisted projecting EPS as the face of the alliance—stood alongside him and openly acknowledged his candidature.

Addressing the gathering, Annamalai said with striking clarity, “Former Chief Minister and NDA alliance Chief Ministerial candidate, Edappadi K Palanisamy just now spoke on stage. You all said that he will sit on the Chief Minister’s chair in 2026. Let the change happen in 2026, let a new revolution happen and let the government work for the prosperity of the poor.”

This endorsement marks a sharp U-turn for Annamalai, who had earlier stirred controversy by insisting that only NDA leaders could announce the chief ministerial face. His past jibes at Palanisamy—including calling him a “Tharkuri” (a person without knowledge)—had widened rifts between the BJP and AIADMK camps.

When pressed on this sudden change of tone, Annamalai justified his stand, saying,
“I’m a cadre of the party, please understand that. I am duty bound to act on the decision taken by the leaders. Party has said, Prime Minister Modi has said and so it is my duty.”

He further emphasized party discipline over personal opinion: “If cadres have difference of opinion, there can’t be discipline with the party. Yesterday, I was invited by GK Vasan for the event and I sat on the chair where he asked me to sit. Even if I’m personally upset or angry with a DMK Minister, I respect the person. Both are different. Annamalai as a cadre is listening to the party and acting.”