Major Shift in Tamil Nadu BJP: H. Raja Appointed to Lead Coordination Committee Amid Annamalai’s Absence

Chennai, August 30 – In a significant development within the Tamil Nadu BJP, senior leader H. Raja has been appointed to head a newly formed coordination committee to oversee the party’s activities while state president K. Annamalai is away in London for political studies. The appointment was made by BJP National President J.P. Nadda, marking a crucial move as the party gears up for upcoming challenges in the state.

Annamalai, who is pursuing further education in the UK, will be absent for three months, during which time the newly appointed committee will manage the party's operations in Tamil Nadu. The committee includes BJP Vice Presidents Chakravarthy and Kanaga Sabapathy, State General Secretaries Muruganantham and Ram Srinivasan, and State Treasurer S.R. Sekar. This team is tasked with ensuring the smooth functioning of the party during Annamalai’s absence.

Ram Srinivasan clarified that the committee's role is to coordinate activities and maintain the party’s momentum, without implementing any major changes. He emphasized that the committee will function only until Annamalai’s return, after which he will resume full control of the party’s affairs.

The decision comes amid growing internal tension within the Tamil Nadu BJP, following the party’s poor performance in the recent elections, where the alliance with AIADMK was cited as a major factor in their defeat. Critics within the party, including former Minister S.P. Velumani and former state president Tamilisai Soundararajan, had previously voiced concerns about Annamalai’s leadership and the breakdown of the alliance.

Interestingly, Tamilisai Soundararajan, who recently resigned as Governor of Telangana to contest in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections, was notably absent from this new committee. This omission has raised eyebrows, especially given her previous leadership role in the state BJP.

As the Tamil Nadu BJP navigates these internal shifts, H. Raja’s appointment is seen as a strategic move to stabilize the party and maintain its focus during Annamalai’s temporary absence. The party leadership hopes that this coordination committee will effectively manage the party’s operations, ensuring that Tamil Nadu BJP remains a formidable force in the state’s political landscape.