Annamalai Draws Ire Of TN BJP Unit After Party's Dismal Show In Lok Sabha Polls

The Tamil Nadu BJP unit is upset over party state president K Annamalai's 'miscalculated' strategies resulting in AIADMK breaking ties with it - a move that has cost the saffron party dearly in the Lok Sabha polls.

On Thursday, Annamalai stated that AIADMK has been rejected by the people of Tamil Nadu and ruled out the possibility of forging alliance with the Dravidian party for the 2026 state Assembly polls.

Some sections in the TN BJP believe that an alliance with AIADMK would have reaped dividends for them in the Lok Sabha polls, helping Narendra Modi to cross the majority mark in the Lower House, reported Times of India.

Annamalai strategy to sideline AIADMK in Tamil Nadu thinking it will boost BJP prospects in the state has not gone down too well with the party cadre.

"The unilateral decision of the leadership to not align with AIADMK has backfired on us," a senior BJP functionary said.

Some senior leaders have expressed "concerns" about BJP IT cell's reaction to the opinions against the state leadership.

Kalyan Raman, BJP state intellectual cell in-charge, posted on X to accuse Annamalai of misleading the central leadership "as usual". He called the results as a "significant loss of face in the public eye, poor perception management, and a pathetic political misadventure."