Knives Out for Tamil Nadu BJP Chief After Drawing a Blank in Tamil Nadu

Knives Out for Tamil Nadu BJP Chief After Drawing a Blank in Tamil Nadu

Keywords: Tamil Nadu BJP, Annamalai, Lok Sabha Elections, AIADMK, DMK

Chennai: The knives are out for Tamil Nadu BJP President K. Annamalai after the party drew a blank in the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections. Critics within the party are blaming Annamalai for the poor performance, arguing that his confrontational style and divisive rhetoric alienated voters.

Annamalai, a former IPS officer who joined the BJP in 2020, has been a polarizing figure since his appointment as BJP chief. His aggressive attacks on the ruling DMK and its allies, as well as his support for the contentious Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), have rubbed many voters the wrong way.

Despite high hopes of making significant gains in Tamil Nadu, the BJP failed to win a single seat in the state. The party’s vote share also declined significantly compared to the 2019 elections.

Sources within the BJP say that Annamalai’s failure to forge an alliance with the AIADMK, the main opposition party in the state, was a major setback. The AIADMK had initially agreed to ally with the BJP, but later pulled out after facing pressure from its alliance partner, the PMK.

Annamalai’s critics argue that he should have adopted a more conciliatory approach towards the AIADMK and other potential allies. They also say that he should have focused on positive campaigning instead of indulging in personal attacks on his opponents.

While Annamalai has defended his leadership, it remains to be seen whether he will be able to quell the dissent within the party. The BJP’s poor performance in Tamil Nadu could have long-term implications for the party’s future in the southern state.