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K Annamalai, president of the Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), resigned from his post on Friday.

 

The party has said it will announce his successor by April 9.

 

Speaking to the media, Annamalai confirmed that he would not contest for the position again and would continue working as a party cadre. He also stated that he would not be going to Delhi.

 

Annamalai had hoped to disrupt Tamil Nadu's political landscape and make the BJP a key player in the state. However, his tenure did not bring the desired results. The BJP failed to secure more seats in the state assembly or increase the number of MPs from Tamil Nadu.

 

Also read: AIADMK-BJP alliance buzz grows after EPS visits Delhi

 

His resignation follows a meeting between AIADMK (All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) leader Edappadi Palaniswamy and Union Home Minister Amit Shah, which suggests a potential alliance between the AIADMK and BJP ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections. The break in the alliance before the 2024 general elections had allowed the DMK to win all 39 seats in Tamil Nadu. Had the BJP and AIADMK stayed together, they could have posed a serious challenge to the DMK-led coalition.

 

If the AIADMK decides to join forces with the BJP, this could impact the chances of actor Vijay's party, Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam (TVK). Vijay, who has declared both the DMK (Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam) and the BJP as his targets, might lose a potential ally in the AIADMK. This would affect TVK's chances of securing more seats in the 2026 Assembly elections.

 

A recent CVoter survey showed that MK Stalin remains the most popular choice for Chief Minister, with 27 per cent of respondents supporting him. Vijay came second with 18 per cent, while Annamalai and EPS received 9 per cent and 10 per cent, respectively. If the AIADMK and BJP form an alliance, their combined support would rise to 19 per cent, giving them an edge over Vijay.

 

Vijay’s popularity could be affected by an alliance between the AIADMK and BJP. While the actor has a large following, an alliance with the AIADMK would mean missing out on potential votes. If the BJP-AIADMK alliance holds until 2029, it could result in a stronger performance than in 2024, leaving TVK with fewer opportunities.