With 'GOAT' Set to Release, H Raja, Vijay's Former Critic, Takes Helm Of State BJP In Annamalai's Absence

As the much-anticipated release of Vijay's film 'GOAT' approaches, the BJP has appointed its national executive council member H Raja to lead the state unit.

In the absence of state president K Annamalai, who is on a three-month sabbatical in the United Kingdom, the BJP has appointed a six-member Coordination Committee to manage the party's affairs in the state, with H Raja at the helm.

H Raja, a national executive council member and former MLA, is no stranger to controversy, especially when it comes to Vijay. He previously stirred up a storm by publicly sharing the actor's voter ID, which revealed his full name as Joseph Vijay, in response to the criticism of the BJP's policies in the film 'Mersal.'

Raja had taken issue with the film's portrayal of digital India and the Goods and Services Tax (GST), leading him to target Vijay's religion on social media with the caption, "Truth is bitter."

Now, Raja is back in the spotlight as the head of the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit in Annamalai's absence. According to a circular released by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh, the newly formed committee includes state vice-presidents M Chakravarthy and P Kanagasabapathi, state general secretaries M Muruganandam and Raama Sreenivasan, and state treasurer SR Sekhar.

"Veteran leader and former MLA, H Raja will be the Convenor of the Committee. State vice-presidents M Chakravarthy, P Kanagasabapathi, State general secretaries M Muruganandam, Raama Sreenivasan and State treasurer SR Sekhar will be the members of the committee," a circular reads.

As Raja steps into this leadership role, the release of 'GOAT' is generating significant buzz. The film is set to hit theaters on September 5, but advance ticket bookings in Tamil Nadu have been delayed due to a profit-sharing dispute between theater owners and distributors. While one screen has started advance bookings, full-fledged reservations remain on hold as negotiations continue.