NEW DELHI: One has a past with AIADMK, and the other made a contentious remark on Jayalalithaa. For Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) to take on its biggest critique - Tamil Nadu's ruling government DMK - it needed a working regional alliance with AIADMK. And thus, Nainar Nagendran seems to be a fair choice.
BJP on Friday announced its reunion with AIADMK for the upcoming 2026 assembly elections and Union home minister Amit Shah said that the NDA would contest under the leadership of Edappadi Palaniswami. This comes after EPS had declared that the DMK was his party’s "sole enemy" and expressed willingness to form alliances with any like-minded parties.
Also read: AIADMK, BJP announce alliance for Tamil Nadu assembly elections
The event was followed by Nainar Nagendran, who was formerly with AIADMK, submitting his nomination for Tamil Nadu BJP state president, a post previously held by K Annamalai.
Annamalai made it clear that he was not in the race for the party's top post.
"The nomination for the post of Tamil Nadu BJP State President has been received only from Mr @NainarBJP. As the Tamil Nadu BJP President, Mr @annamalai_k has made commendable achievements. Whether it is taking the policies of Prime Minister Mr @narendramodi to the people, or taking the party's projects village by village, Mr. Annamalai's contribution is immense. The BJP will utilize Mr Annamalai's organizational skills in the party's national structure," Amit Shah informed.
Why Nagendran ticks all boxes of being the Tamil Nadu BJP president
Nainar Nagendran is a BJP legislator who represents Tirunelveli constituency in Tamil Nadu. He had already given a hint of the alliance earlier this year when he had said that "there was no need to intimidate the AIADMK to get the party agree to an alliance with the BJP and a dialogue with EPS was enough for stitching an alliance with the AIADMK.''
Annamalai, who was then the BJP president, had distanced himself from the statement and said that Nagendran's remarks were misinterpreted. He had later clarified his stance on the possibility of an alliance saying that he was ready to serve as a "BJP cadre." "I have already said that I am even ready to work as a BJP cadre. I have not entered politics for power. I wanted to work for a better TN,'' he said.
He served as a cabinet minister under AIADMK from 2001 to 2006, hence, he is well suited to be a bridge between the newly formed alliance.
Also read: Nainar Nagendran files nomination for Tamil Nadu BJP top post
Annamalai's comment on Jayalalithaa and BJP-AIADMK breakup
The freshly formed alliance, which would remain "permanent and wouldn't change" as assured by Amit Shah, has had its share of tumultuous past after the saffron party's former chief Annamalai made a remark on late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, that did not go down well with AIADMK.
"It took time because this alliance is now permanent," Shah said on the question of delay in forming an alliance.
The BJP and AIADMK were allies in the 2021 state elections, where the BJP secured four seats. However, tensions between the two parties arose after Annamalai made a contentious remark about the late AIADMK leader and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s conviction in a corruption case.
Senior AIADMK leaders had criticized Annamalai for undermining the alliance’s spirit and not acknowledging the AIADMK’s leadership role within the state coalition.
Amit Shah, however, this time, categorically said that the BJP wouldn't interfere in the internal matters of AIADMK. "AIADMK has no conditions and demands... We will have no interference in the internal matters of the AIADMK. This alliance is going to be beneficial to both NDA and AIADMK," he said.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, both parties contested independently with separate alliances, which ultimately weakened their position, as the DMK-led coalition won all the seats in Tamil Nadu.
BJP on Friday announced its reunion with AIADMK for the upcoming 2026 assembly elections and Union home minister Amit Shah said that the NDA would contest under the leadership of Edappadi Palaniswami. This comes after EPS had declared that the DMK was his party’s "sole enemy" and expressed willingness to form alliances with any like-minded parties.
Also read: AIADMK, BJP announce alliance for Tamil Nadu assembly elections
The event was followed by Nainar Nagendran, who was formerly with AIADMK, submitting his nomination for Tamil Nadu BJP state president, a post previously held by K Annamalai.
Annamalai made it clear that he was not in the race for the party's top post.
"The nomination for the post of Tamil Nadu BJP State President has been received only from Mr @NainarBJP. As the Tamil Nadu BJP President, Mr @annamalai_k has made commendable achievements. Whether it is taking the policies of Prime Minister Mr @narendramodi to the people, or taking the party's projects village by village, Mr. Annamalai's contribution is immense. The BJP will utilize Mr Annamalai's organizational skills in the party's national structure," Amit Shah informed.
தமிழ்நாடு பாஜக மாநிலத்தலைவர் பொறுப்புக்கு திரு.@NainarBJP அவர்களிடமிருந்து மட்டுமே பரிந்துரை பெறப்பட்டுள்ளது.
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 11, 2025
தமிழ்நாடு பாஜக தலைவராக, திரு.@annamalai_k அவர்கள் பாராட்டத்தக்க சாதனைகளைச் செய்துள்ளார். பிரதமர் திரு.@narendramodi அவர்களின் கொள்கைகளை மக்களிடம் கொண்டு செல்வதாக…
Why Nagendran ticks all boxes of being the Tamil Nadu BJP president
Nainar Nagendran is a BJP legislator who represents Tirunelveli constituency in Tamil Nadu. He had already given a hint of the alliance earlier this year when he had said that "there was no need to intimidate the AIADMK to get the party agree to an alliance with the BJP and a dialogue with EPS was enough for stitching an alliance with the AIADMK.''
Annamalai, who was then the BJP president, had distanced himself from the statement and said that Nagendran's remarks were misinterpreted. He had later clarified his stance on the possibility of an alliance saying that he was ready to serve as a "BJP cadre." "I have already said that I am even ready to work as a BJP cadre. I have not entered politics for power. I wanted to work for a better TN,'' he said.
He served as a cabinet minister under AIADMK from 2001 to 2006, hence, he is well suited to be a bridge between the newly formed alliance.
Also read: Nainar Nagendran files nomination for Tamil Nadu BJP top post
Annamalai's comment on Jayalalithaa and BJP-AIADMK breakup
The freshly formed alliance, which would remain "permanent and wouldn't change" as assured by Amit Shah, has had its share of tumultuous past after the saffron party's former chief Annamalai made a remark on late Tamil Nadu CM Jayalalithaa, that did not go down well with AIADMK.
"It took time because this alliance is now permanent," Shah said on the question of delay in forming an alliance.
The BJP and AIADMK were allies in the 2021 state elections, where the BJP secured four seats. However, tensions between the two parties arose after Annamalai made a contentious remark about the late AIADMK leader and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s conviction in a corruption case.
Senior AIADMK leaders had criticized Annamalai for undermining the alliance’s spirit and not acknowledging the AIADMK’s leadership role within the state coalition.
Amit Shah, however, this time, categorically said that the BJP wouldn't interfere in the internal matters of AIADMK. "AIADMK has no conditions and demands... We will have no interference in the internal matters of the AIADMK. This alliance is going to be beneficial to both NDA and AIADMK," he said.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, both parties contested independently with separate alliances, which ultimately weakened their position, as the DMK-led coalition won all the seats in Tamil Nadu.
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