Chennai, April. 02: The alliance talks between AIADMK and BJP are raging in Tamil Nadu, and behind this, it is reported that Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai, who was the main reason for the breakup of AIADMK and BJP alliance in 2023, is likely to step down from his post. However, BJP sources have clarified that this is not a punishment for Annamalai, but a change for caste balance.
If the AIADMK and the BJP are to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections together, the BJP wants that both the AIADMK and BJP leadership should not be from the Gounder caste. Like Annamalai, AIADMK chief K. Palaniswami also belongs to the strongly backward Gounder community and belongs to the Gounder community-dominated Western Kongu region.
BJP sources said the matter was brought up to Annamalai soon after the meeting between Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Palaniswami in Delhi as part of the first formal move to re-alliance between BJP and AIADMK parties.
"Delhi is looking forward to your bright future," the central BJP leadership said to Annamalai, who has so far failed to achieve political success in Tamil Nadu, but has been taking an aggressive stance on the state's issues. However, now the BJP leadership has instructed that Annamalai should trust the party's strategy and follow it.
Behind this, Annamalai is said to have shown complete loyalty to the party, "I have no second thoughts about my commitment to the party and I am ready to work as an ordinary worker," said a senior BJP leader.
Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore on Sunday, Annamalai refused to answer any questions about the AIADMK-BJP alliance, saying, "Recently Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke about the AIADMK-BJP alliance. You can take his words as the final stand of the party."
Commenting on Amit Shah's meeting with Palaniswami, he clarified, "There is nothing wrong with it. There is no need for BJP leaders to meet any party leaders secretly."