BJP Releases 27 Candidates For Tamil Nadu Polls, K Annamalai Opts Out Of Contest

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday released its list of 27 candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, putting to rest speculation over key names and signalling the party’s electoral strategy within the AIADMK-led alliance. The announcement followed delays attributed to prolonged internal deliberations and dissatisfaction among some party members over seat-sharing arrangements.

As widely anticipated, former state president K Annamalai was not included in the candidate list. Despite speculation about his possible candidature, party sources indicated that he had earlier expressed reluctance to contest the Assembly polls. His absence brings clarity to weeks of uncertainty surrounding his role in the elections.

The list features several prominent leaders, including former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan, who will contest from Mylapore, and Union Minister of State L Murugan, fielded from Avanashi (SC). BJP national Mahila Morcha president Vanathi Srinivasan will contest from Coimbatore (North), while state president Nainar Nagendran has been nominated from Sattur.

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Among other notable candidates, S Vijayadharani, who switched from the Congress to the BJP after winning the 2021 election from Vilavancode, has been re-nominated from the same constituency. The party has also retained three of its four sitting MLAs—Nagendran, Srinivasan, and M R Gandhi—while introducing new faces in select constituencies, including Kirthika Shivkumar replacing Saraswathi in Modakkurichi.

The BJP has fielded five women candidates in its 27-member list, reflecting a modest emphasis on gender representation. Additionally, KC Thirumaran, leader of the South India Forward Bloc, will contest from Tirupattur as part of the alliance arrangement. Candidates have been given April 4 and 6 as the designated dates to file their nominations.

The BJP is contesting 27 seats as part of the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance in Tamil Nadu. However, the seat-sharing arrangement has sparked some discontent within party ranks, with leaders expressing concerns over both the number and winnability of the constituencies allocated. This comes despite the party securing over 11 percent vote share in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections while contesting independently of the AIADMK.

Party insiders also confirmed that Annamalai had discussed his decision not to contest with senior leadership, including Union Minister Piyush Goyal, who is overseeing election preparations in the state. His decision, along with the finalisation of candidates, marks a crucial step as the BJP gears up for a competitive electoral battle in Tamil Nadu.

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