Annamalai breaks silence after BJP denied him ticket for Tamil Nadu polls: ‘I decided...’

Mangalore Today News Network

Chennai, Apr 4, 2026: BJP leader K Annamalai on Saturday clarified that he had chosen not to contest the upcoming assembly elections in Tamil Nadu and had informed the party’s core committee of his decision in advance.

Speaking to reporters in Chennai, Annamalai said he had conveyed in writing that he would not contest from any constituency. “I had already informed the core committee in writing that I would not contest from any constituency. So, it is not that I was denied a ticket; the truth is that I decided not to contest," he said.

The BJP leader said he was issuing the clarification as the matter had become a topic of discussion in the media. “Since this has become a topic of discussion in the media, I am clarifying it here," he added.

Annamalai also thanked the party leadership for respecting his decision and said he would focus on campaigning for the alliance. “I am grateful to the BJP leadership for respecting my decision and giving me the opportunity to campaign in support of the NDA alliance candidates," he said.

The development comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party released its full list of 27 candidates for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections on Friday, with Annamalai not included in it.

Union minister Piyush Goyal, who released the party’s candidate list, said Annamalai had chosen to focus on campaigning across the state rather than contesting from a single constituency.

“Annamalai is a dedicated worker of the party and has chosen to work across the state rather than contest from one constituency," Goyal said, adding that candidates were selected based on inputs from the state unit and individual preferences.

After the list was announced, Annamalai said on X that he would campaign for NDA candidates.

“I am a karyakarta and will stand shoulder to shoulder & campaign for all our winning BJP & other NDA candidates, with the aim of the NDA winning 210 seats," he said.

Tamil Nadu votes in a single phase on April 23. Counting of votes is scheduled for May 4.