What's Next For Annamalai: BJP Plans To Nominate Ex-IPS Officer For RS Seat From Andhra

Updated: Tuesday, April 22, 2025, 14:08 [IST]

The BJP is expected to field former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai or former Union Minister Smriti Irani as the NDA candidate for the single Rajya Sabha seat which is vacated after YSRCP's Vijayasai Reddy announced his resignation in January.

By Election

The bye-elections to one Rajya Sabha seat is scheduled to be held on May 9. YSRCP's Vijayasai Reddy has bid goodbye to active politics and decided to resign from his post, although his tenure was expected to complete in June 2028.

What Next For Annamalai BJP Plans To Nominate Ex-IPS Officer For RS Seat From Andhra

Meanwhile, Reddy had recently appeared before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) in connection with the liquor scam. The SIT, formed in November 2024 has reportedly uncovered a Rs 4,000 crore alleged scam.

It is reported that the TDP, which is part of the NDA, is expected to back the BJP candidate. Andhra CM Chandra Babu Naidu is expected to meet Union Home Minister and BJP's chief strategist Amit Shah on Tuesday, along with several other Union Ministers today. Naidu is expected to take up several issues, including the development of Amaravati, progress on State projects.

K Annamalai

K Annamalai has been the face of the Tamil Nadu BJP. His popularity had reached new heights, but the AIADMK, which had quit the NDA two years ago over his critical comments on Dravidian politics stalwarts Annadurai and J Jayalalithaa, laid a condition for his removal in order to join hands with the BJP again ahead of 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly polls.

Hence, the high command decided to replace him with Nainar Nagendran. Annamalai is expected to be made a Union Minister. On asking whether he will get a berth in Modi cabinet, Amit Shah said this in Chennai recently:"Leave some decision to party.. we will manage. Please don't worry too much about my party; we will do well,"

Smriti Irani

On the other hand, former Union Minister in Modi cabinet lost to Congress' Kishori Lal Sharma by over 1.6 lakh votes in 2024 Lok Sabha polls. She was considered a giant killer in 2019 after defeating Rahul Gandhi. Nonetheless, she continues to be an influential leader in the party and he is also in the race to bag the seat.