Supporters of K. Annamalai are closely watching his next move after he announced that he will not contest the upcoming election.
According to the report, the BJP accepted an earlier condition set by AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami (EPS) that Annamalai should not be the Tamil Nadu BJP chief if an alliance was to be formed. With both sides sticking to that understanding, the alliance was finalised.
In the seat-sharing talks, EPS is said to have got his way. In Coimbatore district, where Annamalai has a strong following, his supporters expected constituencies such as Goundampalayam or Singanallur. However, the BJP was allotted only Coimbatore North, reportedly to accommodate Vanathi Srinivasan, while other seats were retained by the AIADMK.
The report says Annamalai, who had worked to build influence over time, was left disappointed by the outcome and later informed supporters that he would not enter the fray. BJP circles also claim he is now facing the consequences of earlier remarks he made about EPS, while his supporters have intensified criticism of both the BJP and AIADMK leadership online.
With the situation unresolved, there is growing speculation among his followers about whether Annamalai will actively campaign, stay away from the campaign trail, or respond in some other way during the election period.
