Nainar Nagendran to lead BJP's Tamil Nadu unit; Annamalai set for national role

IANS April 11, 2025 209 views

The BJP has appointed Nainar Nagendran as the new Tamil Nadu state president in a significant leadership transition. Nagendran, a former AIADMK leader who joined BJP in 2016, brings extensive political experience to the role. K. Annamalai, the outgoing president, is set to take on a national responsibility, praised by Home Minister Amit Shah for his organizational skills. This strategic move comes at a crucial time as the BJP explores potential alliances in the state.

"Annamalai Ji's work has been unprecedented" - Amit Shah
Chennai, April 11: BJP Legislature Party Leader and former Minister Nainar Nagendran is set to become the 13th President of the Tamil Nadu BJP. His appointment comes as part of a significant reshuffle within the party's state and national leadership.

Key Points

1

Nagendran becomes 13th BJP Tamil Nadu President

2

Backed by key party leaders in unanimous nomination

3

Transitions from AIADMK to BJP leadership

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Strategic move ahead of potential AIADMK alliance

The announcement was made by BJP National General Secretary Tarun Chugh at Kamalalayam, the party's state headquarters.

Chugh stated: "We have received nominations for the post of State President from Nainar Nagendran, proposed by K. Annamalai, L. Murugan, Pon Radhakrishnan, H. Raja, Vanathi Srinivasan, V.P. Duraisamy, Kanagasabapathy, Pon V. Balaganapathy, K.P. Ramalingam, and Narayanan Thirupathy."

Nagendran was the sole nominee for the post, effectively confirming his unopposed elevation.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah also acknowledged the development.

In a social media post, he wrote: "The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of State President only from Shri @NainarBJP Ji."

HM Shah lauded outgoing state President K. Annamalai for his contributions, stating: "As the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Shri @annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. Whether in communicating PM Shri @narendramodi Ji's policies to the people or in taking the party's programmes to every village, Annamalai Ji's work has been unprecedented. His organizational skills will now be utilised at the national level."

Nagendran's elevation comes at a crucial time as the BJP inches closer to an alliance with the AIADMK.

The 64-year-old leader has deep roots in Tamil Nadu politics.

Initially a senior AIADMK leader, he was first elected to the Tamil Nadu Assembly from the Tirunelveli constituency in 2001. During the AIADMK government under Jayalalithaa (2001-2006), he served as Minister for Transport, Industries, and Electricity.

He won re-election in 2011 but was not included in the Cabinet. He narrowly lost the seat in the 2006 and 2016 Assembly elections.

After Jayalalithaa's death in 2016, Nagendran joined the BJP and reclaimed Tirunelveli in the 2021 Assembly polls as a BJP candidate.

He was then appointed Legislature Party Leader in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Nagendran also contested the Lok Sabha elections unsuccessfully from Ramanathapuram in 2019 and from Tirunelveli in 2024.

Reader Comments

R
Rajesh K.
Interesting move by BJP! Nagendran's experience in both AIADMK and BJP could be valuable for alliance talks. Wishing him success in this new role 🙏
P
Priya M.
Annamalai did great work for BJP in TN! Sad to see him go but excited to see what he'll do at national level. His social media presence was 🔥
S
Suresh V.
Not sure about this decision. Nagendran has lost multiple elections recently. BJP needs fresh faces with winning potential in TN politics.
M
Meena R.
His experience as minister will help BJP gain ground in TN. The alliance with AIADMK seems more likely now. Smart political move!
K
Karthik B.
Hope Nagendran can build on Annamalai's work. BJP's visibility in TN has definitely improved in recent years. The party needs to focus on local issues more though.
A
Anitha S.
Exciting times for BJP in Tamil Nadu! With experienced leaders like Nagendran and young faces like Annamalai, they might finally make a mark in the state elections 🤞

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

Tags:
Nainar Nagendran K. Annamalai BJP Tamil Nadu Amit Shah Political Reshuffle
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