K Annamalai likely to be named Tamil Nadu BJP general secretary after party president's election: Report
Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai is expected to be appointed as a general secretary in the party's national leadership, The New India Express reported, citing sources.
The announcement is likely to follow the selection of the new BJP president next month.
Annamalai, a 40-year-old former IPS officer from the Karnataka cadre, declined to comment when approached.
“When he stepped down from the Tamil Nadu BJP president’s post in April to pave the way for an alliance with the AIADMK, he was promised a national-level role,” sources said told the news puclication.
Nainar Nagenthran, a sitting MLA, took over as state chief after his resignation.
Although the BJP failed to win any seats in Tamil Nadu during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Annamalai was credited with boosting the party’s vote share from 3% to 11%, despite the absence of alliances with either the DMK or the AIADMK — a feat that has drawn praise within the party.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah has publicly stated multiple times that Annamalai would have a key role in Tamil Nadu politics and that he would also be entrusted with national responsibilities.
Just a day after he stepped down, Annamalai was appointed to the BJP’s national council.
Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president Narayanan Thirupathy recently hinted at a likely promotion, saying, “National office-bearers would be appointed after the election of the national president,” and added that the party “believes that Annamalai is worthy of it.”
Since stepping down as state chief, Annamalai has largely kept a low profile, surfacing recently only to sharply react to AIADMK leader Edappadi K Palaniswami’s claim that his party would win an outright majority in the 2026 Assembly polls.
“Annamalai has been rather quiet and has told media persons that he will speak from August onwards. He portrays himself as BJP karyakarta and has restricted himself to meetings in his stronghold of western TN after he stepped down as party president. He does not skip even the smallest party-related gathering,” sources told TNIE.
He belongs to the Gounder community, a politically influential OBC group in Tamil Nadu.
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
Related Articles
Parallel justice system in Bengaluru! Apartment body booked for hushing up crimes
Bengaluru police have registered a criminal case against a residential apartment association and its private security agency for allegedly bypassing the criminal justice system by dealing with serious offences internally instead of reporting them to the police, media reports said.
Only BS-IV and above vehicles will be exempted, Supreme Court clarifies pollution order
The Supreme Court on Tuesday clarified that only vehicles with BS-IV compliant engines and above will be exempt from action if found operating in Delhi, modifying its earlier order on curbs for older vehicles amid worsening air pollution.
‘Indian manufacturing is declining’: Rahul Gandhi’s remark in Germany's BMW plant sparks row
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has once again stirred a political row with his remarks on India’s manufacturing sector during his visit to Munich, Germany.
Strategic message from the seas: Indian Coast Guard ship Sarthak reaches Chabahar Port
The Indian Coast Guard (ICG) Ship Sarthak, an Offshore Patrol Vessel, entered the Chabahar port in Iran, a strategically placed deep-water port that offers India a direct maritime gateway to Iran, Afghanistan and Central Asia.
Latest News
Parallel justice system in Bengaluru! Apartment body booked for hushing up crimes
Smog forces abandonment of India vs South Africa 4th T20I in Lucknow
Only BS-IV and above vehicles will be exempted, Supreme Court clarifies pollution order
NFR strengthens safety measures at level crossing gates across zone
