Amid Dhanush's rumoured political entry, BJP mulls 'Sarathkumar' move in Tamil Nadu

CHENNAI: The Bharatiya Janata Party is seeking a revival in Tamil Nadu after its lacklustre showing in this year's assembly elections. Reports indicate that the current state president, Nainar Nagendran, will soon step down. Among the names being discussed as a replacement is Ramanathan Sarathkumar, the renowned Tamil actor. Various Tamil media outlets report that 72-year-old Sarathkumar stands a chance of becoming the state head of the BJP in Tamil Nadu.

Union Minister L. Murugan resigned from his position and returned to state politics, citing the need to prepare the party for the 2029 Lok Sabha elections. Following this, demands arose to make Murugan the state president. However, Murugan is unlikely to be given a chance as he has served in the position in the past. Sarathkumar, who had founded his own party—the All India Samathuva Makkal Katchi—in 2007, later merged it with the BJP just before the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.

BJP central leadership is contemplating the glitzy politics of Tamil Nadu and the slowing, waning influence of Dravidian politics. Following in the footsteps of actor Vijay, Dhanush recently hinted at his political entry and has reportedly assigned his fan base to start work. Many believe this to be a first step in the actor’s entry into active politics.

BJP is weighing options to stay afloat in the mainstream politics of Tamil Nadu amid the TVK wave that has swept away all major parties to near irrelevance. To make amends, the central leadership believes in bringing a prominent actor to the topmost position in the party at the state level. An influential orator and a towering presence in the cine world, Sarathkumar is likely to land in the role of State BJP president only if the central leadership agrees to the move.