Internal Tensions Rise In Tamil Nadu BJP Following Lok Sabha Election Defeat

K. Annamalai, the state president of the Tamil Nadu BJP, is facing significant criticism for the party's poor performance in the 2024 elections.

After the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) failed to secure any seats in the Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu, with some candidates managing only second place, internal conflicts within the party have intensified. K. Annamalai, the state president of the Tamil Nadu BJP, is facing significant criticism for the party's poor performance in the 2024 elections.

The discord became evident on Wednesday when Annamalai targeted the AIADMK, asserting that the BJP's ability to push the AIADMK to third place in a dozen seats was a victory for his party. In response, former AIADMK minister R. B. Udhayakumar blamed Annamalai for the disappointing results of both parties.

Despite the setback, Annamalai remained optimistic, telling the media that the BJP had increased its vote share in the state, indicating that the party was on the right track. He emphasized that the BJP would double its efforts to secure a win in the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.

BJP Leaders Point Finger At Annamalai

Tamilisai Soundararajan, a former president of the Tamil Nadu BJP, criticized the lack of strategy that she believes cost the party potential seats. She said that but Annamalai did not want that. She supported the opinion of former AIADMK minister S. P. Velumani, who suggested that the alliance between the AIADMK and BJP could have won around 30 seats if it had remained strong. 

BJP leader Kalyan Raman also accepted the statement of both Tamilisai Soundararajan and SP Velumani. He said, "Annamalai as usual trying to mislead the central leadership. BJP got less % votes now than 2014 elections is a glaring fact, from 18.8% to 18.2% that too while contesting 38 then to 39 now."

"Another fact, under the leadership of Pon Radhakrishnan in 2014 2 seats we lost deposit in just 2 seats among 9 contested. Now we lost deposit in 11 of the 23 contested. Huge loss of face before common man and bad perception management and pathetic political mis-adventure," he added. 

As dissent grows against Annamalai within the Tamil Nadu BJP, he has been summoned to Delhi. It is speculated that he may be included in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's council of ministers as a Minister of State, potentially indicating a strategic shift within the party.