NEW DELHI: Has the BJP signalled a shift in its politics in Tamil Nadu? State BJP president K Annamalai , whose aggressive brand of politics helped popularise the lotus in Tamil Nadu, on Friday said he was not in the race for the post of the next state unit chief.
"I am not in the race for the post of the new state president. I am not ready for any quarrel (related to the next chief and whether he has any preference for any particular leader) and I am not in the race," Annamalai said when asked about the issue.
Annamalai's announcement, which comes days after AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami ( EPS ) met Union home minister Amit Shah, gives credence to reports that the BJP may be exploring an alliance with its former partner for the assembly elections in the state due next year.
Amit Shah-EPS meeting last month sparked intense political speculation about a possible revival of the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the state. However, reports claimed that AIADMK had put Annamalai's ouster as state party chief a precondition for any possible tie-up.
The AIADMK and BJP were alliance partners in the 2021 state elections, during which the saffron party won four seats. However, the relationship between the two parties suffered after Annamalai made a controversial reference to late AIADMK supremo and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's conviction in a corruption case.
Senior AIADMK leaders accused Annamalai of disrespecting the alliance's spirit and failing to recognise the AIADMK's leadership within the state coalition.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the two parties fought separately, forming independent alliances and both suffered in the process as the DMK-led coalition swept all seats in Tamil Nadu.
With chief minister M K Stalin already in election mode for the assembly polls next year, perhaps both the BJP and the AIA DMK realise the importance of coming together. EPS has announced that for his party the DMK was the "sole enemy" and he was ready to join hands with any like-minded party for an alliance.
However, the big question is: Can AIADMK treat BJP as like-minded party given the issues that the saffron party has pushed for in the recent past - the three-language formula, the Waqf Bill. Will the AIADMK gain from this alliance? Also, will this tieup take away from the BJP all the gains it had made in the last few years under Annamalai who projected BJP as an alternative to the state parties?
Political analysts feel that BJP's stand on the three-language formula and the passage of the Waqf Bill may make the AIADMK nervous about the possible electoral fallout.
"The BJP's agenda on delimitation, Neet, language policy, Waqf Bill makes the saffron party a difficult partner in Tamil Nadu for any regional party, says Vijaya Sankar, senior journalist and political analyst.
He feels the BJP and AIADMK will have to woo other parties and make a grand coalition if it wants to challenge the DMK-led front, which, according to him has already got a head-start thanks to some smart moves made by chief minister M K Stalin.
"All existing political players would be keenly watching the moves of actor-turned-politician Vijay. He is the unknown factor in the next elections and it remains to be seen who suffers due to his presence in the political arena," says Vijaya Sankar.
Elections in Tamil Nadu are still a year away. The BJP may have to tone down the issues it has been raking up in the state if it wants a coalition. But one thing is certain, if the BJP-AIADMK coalition indeed happens, Annamalai will perhaps be the biggest loser.
"I am not in the race for the post of the new state president. I am not ready for any quarrel (related to the next chief and whether he has any preference for any particular leader) and I am not in the race," Annamalai said when asked about the issue.
Annamalai's announcement, which comes days after AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami ( EPS ) met Union home minister Amit Shah, gives credence to reports that the BJP may be exploring an alliance with its former partner for the assembly elections in the state due next year.
Amit Shah-EPS meeting last month sparked intense political speculation about a possible revival of the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the state. However, reports claimed that AIADMK had put Annamalai's ouster as state party chief a precondition for any possible tie-up.
The AIADMK and BJP were alliance partners in the 2021 state elections, during which the saffron party won four seats. However, the relationship between the two parties suffered after Annamalai made a controversial reference to late AIADMK supremo and former chief minister J Jayalalithaa's conviction in a corruption case.
Senior AIADMK leaders accused Annamalai of disrespecting the alliance's spirit and failing to recognise the AIADMK's leadership within the state coalition.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, the two parties fought separately, forming independent alliances and both suffered in the process as the DMK-led coalition swept all seats in Tamil Nadu.
With chief minister M K Stalin already in election mode for the assembly polls next year, perhaps both the BJP and the AIA DMK realise the importance of coming together. EPS has announced that for his party the DMK was the "sole enemy" and he was ready to join hands with any like-minded party for an alliance.
However, the big question is: Can AIADMK treat BJP as like-minded party given the issues that the saffron party has pushed for in the recent past - the three-language formula, the Waqf Bill. Will the AIADMK gain from this alliance? Also, will this tieup take away from the BJP all the gains it had made in the last few years under Annamalai who projected BJP as an alternative to the state parties?
Political analysts feel that BJP's stand on the three-language formula and the passage of the Waqf Bill may make the AIADMK nervous about the possible electoral fallout.
"The BJP's agenda on delimitation, Neet, language policy, Waqf Bill makes the saffron party a difficult partner in Tamil Nadu for any regional party, says Vijaya Sankar, senior journalist and political analyst.
He feels the BJP and AIADMK will have to woo other parties and make a grand coalition if it wants to challenge the DMK-led front, which, according to him has already got a head-start thanks to some smart moves made by chief minister M K Stalin.
"All existing political players would be keenly watching the moves of actor-turned-politician Vijay. He is the unknown factor in the next elections and it remains to be seen who suffers due to his presence in the political arena," says Vijaya Sankar.
Elections in Tamil Nadu are still a year away. The BJP may have to tone down the issues it has been raking up in the state if it wants a coalition. But one thing is certain, if the BJP-AIADMK coalition indeed happens, Annamalai will perhaps be the biggest loser.
You may also like
Supreme Court backs Trump in scrapping $600m education grants linked to DEI
Migration chaos as hotels threaten to evict hundreds of asylum seekers
Arne Slot sets the record straight on Liverpool theory rejected by Virgil van Dijk
Mikel Arteta explains how to fix Arsenal injury nightmare - 'It's the only solution'
Ange Postecoglou gives passionate response about engaging with fans and what Tottenham must do
