Top BJP leaders enter election fray in Tamil Nadu; Annamalai stays out

CHENNAI: BJP released its list of candidates for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections. Former state president K Annamalai will not contest as he had earlier told the leadership of his decision not to enter the election fray this time. However, there are indications that Annamalai decided not to contest in disappointment over not receiving the seat he demanded.

Current state president Nainar Nagendran will contest from Sattur. Former Telangana Governor and former BJP state president Tamilisai Soundararajan will contest from Mylapore. Union Minister L. Murugan will contest from Avinashi, and Mahila Morcha state president Vanathi Srinivasan will contest from Coimbatore North.

Vijayadharani, who resigned as an MLA and joined the BJP after winning from Vilavancode on a Congress ticket in 2021, will contest again from the same constituency. Keertika Shivakumar, who was expected to contest from Modakurichi.

When the seat-sharing was done, leaders, including Annamalai, were disappointed over BJP not being provided with major seats despite the saffron party's high chance of winning them. The fact that Annamalai was not in the contest after the seat-sharing was finalised has disappointed a section of workers. However, the morale among workers is alive as they are ready to go to any extent to work and ensure that an NDA government comes to power in the state.