NEW DELHI: Senior BJP chief Ok Annamalai on Saturday clarified that he was not denied a ticket for the upcoming Tamil Nadu meeting elections, stating that he himself had chosen to not contest and would as a substitute concentrate on campaigning for the celebration and its allies.“I had already knowledgeable the core committee in writing that I might not be contesting in any constituency. Due to this fact, it isn’t that I used to be denied a ticket the reality is that I selected to not contest the election,” Annamalai advised reporters at Chennai airport.
The clarification comes a day after the Bharatiya Janata Occasion (BJP) launched its first listing of 27 candidates for the April 23 meeting polls, with Annamalai’s absence drawing consideration throughout political circles.
Annamalai stated he would tackle a broader organizational function in the course of the elections whereas campaigning for BJP throughout a number of states.“… On this election, my function is to marketing campaign for candidates throughout Tamil Nadu. Proper now, the celebration has given me the accountability to marketing campaign in Puducherry and Kerala until the seventh (April). From the seventh to the twenty third, I’ve to marketing campaign for all BJP and NDA candidates throughout Tamil Nadu. That’s the accountability given by the celebration to me. I will be fulfilling that accountability,” he stated.He additionally expressed gratitude to the celebration management for accepting his choice.“When I didn’t categorical any curiosity in contesting, how may the management allocate me a ticket? If I had determined to contest, it would not have mattered which constituency I may have contested from wherever. I’m grateful to the BJP management for respecting my choice and giving me the chance to marketing campaign in help of the NDA alliance candidates,” he added.Nonetheless, there have been reviews that Annamalai had conveyed to the celebration nationwide management his “excessive” displeasure over the constituencies allotted for the nationwide celebration by the AIADMK.In the meantime, Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagendran termed Annamalai’s absence from candidate listing a management name.“This can be a choice from the excessive command…,” Nagendran stated, expressing confidence within the celebration’s candidates. “All of the 27 candidates will certainly win this time.”Regardless of not contesting, Annamalai stays central to the BJP’s marketing campaign technique. BJP MP Tejasvi Surya stated his recognition would profit the celebration throughout the state.“Annamalai is the preferred chief of the BJP, not simply in Tamil Nadu, however he instructions a big following all around the nation. He has been given the accountability of campaigning for all of the candidates in Tamil Nadu. I’m extraordinarily assured that Annamalai’s recognition and his marketing campaign all throughout Tamil Nadu will translate into victory for the BJP candidates all throughout the state,” Surya stated.The BJP’s candidate listing contains senior leaders resembling Tamilisai Soundararajan from Mylapore, Vanathi Srinivasan from Coimbatore North, and Union minister L Murugan from Avinashi.Annamalai, a former IPS officer often known as “Singham”, had beforehand served because the Tamil Nadu BJP president earlier than being changed by Nagendran. He performed a key function in increasing the celebration’s presence within the state and led outreach initiatives such because the “En Mann, En Makkal” yatra.The BJP is contesting the elections as a part of the Nationwide Democratic Alliance (NDA), led within the state by the AIADMK. Underneath the alliance association, the AIADMK will contest 169 of the 234 seats, whereas the BJP will contest 27 seats alongside different allies.Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single part on April 23, with counting scheduled for Might 4. The principle contest is anticipated between the DMK-led Secular Progressive Alliance and the NDA, with actor-turned-politician Vijay additionally coming into the fray.Why the transfer may match for BJPAnnamalai is free of constituency-level obligations, permitting him to marketing campaign extensively throughout a number of areas. His function as a star campaigner strengthens BJP’s outreach throughout Tamil Nadu, Kerala and Puducherry.This additionally helps BJP to push for a secure alliance with AIADMK. His absence reduces friction with Edappadi Ok Palaniswami, aiding smoother alliance coordination.Annamalai was recognized for his ruthless criticism of AIADMK and DMK. Subsequently, EPS had made Annamalai’s ouster from state politics a precondition for alliance talks forward of the polls.The management transition to Nainar Nagendran signaled a extra alliance-friendly and structured method. It allowed the celebration to mission a unified command and keep away from inside contradictions throughout elections.What may go towards BJPAnnamalai’s absence from the poll may demoralize grassroots staff who seen him as a key chief. BJP dangers weakening its unbiased “third power” narrative in Tamil Nadu politics.His aggressive marketing campaign model, which attracted youthful voters, could not absolutely translate with out him contesting. The transfer could create confusion amongst voters concerning the celebration’s management route within the state.It may very well be perceived as BJP conceding area to AIADMK inside the alliance construction. Lack of a robust face as a candidate may affect local-level electoral momentum.