Annamalai resign party work for Tamil Nadu Assembly Election

Tamil Nadu Assembly Election: In a surprising move today, February 3, 2026, former Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai announced his decision to step down as the election in-charge for six key assembly constituencies. While he officially cited personal reasons, the development has sparked significant speculation within the political circles of the state.

Annamalai stated that his father’s ill health requires him to remain in Coimbatore, making it impossible for him to travel extensively across the state for election work. He was recently appointed as the in-charge for Karaikudi, Singanallur, Srivaikuntam, Virugambakkam, Madurai (South), and Padmanabhapuram.

This comes just as the state gears up for the 2026 Assembly Elections. Annamalai has reportedly communicated this decision to current State BJP President Nainar Nagendran. While the family emergency is the public reason, political insiders suggest deeper friction within the party.

Sources indicate Annamalai may be unhappy with being confined to only six seats. As the party’s most visible face in Tamil Nadu, his supporters believe he should be utilized as a statewide campaigner rather than a localized in-charge.

There are reports that Annamalai—who famously favored an independent path for the BJP—is dissatisfied with the central leadership’s perceived “soft approach” or compromises made to maintain the alliance with the AIADMK.

Since stepping down as state chief in April 2025 to facilitate alliance negotiations, Annamalai has largely kept a low profile in state-level organizational events, leading to rumors of a rift with the current state leadership.

Annamalai clarified that while he is stepping down from the “in-charge” administrative role, he remains available for campaigning and will follow the party’s directives regarding whether he will contest the elections himself.

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