AIADMK pact may be deal-breaker in BJP's call on Annamalai

AMID speculation over the change in leadership of the Tamil Nadu BJP and K Annamalai's likely replacement for the post, TNIE has learnt that the party's national leadership has not expressed any compulsion or intention to shift out the young leader, provided he is willing to work in an alliance with the AIADMK for the 2026 Assembly elections.

- PON VASANTH BA @CHENNAI

"The ball is in Annamalai's court," a senior leader said, adding that it has been made clear to him during his recent visit to Delhi that the AIADMK-BJP alliance is of utmost importance for the Assembly polls.

The leadership, however, does not want the alliance to fructify at the cost of Annamalai's job. On the contrary, it is Annamalai who has reiterated his firm conviction to the top brass that the alliance is not in the national party's best interests in Tamil Nadu by presenting a micro-level, data-backed analysis.