BJP-AIADMK alliance: Can Nainar deliver where Annamalai fell short?

That the BJP chose Friday (April 11) to finally mend fences with the AIADMK and announce plans to contest the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections as alliance partners is telling.

Earlier in the day, it was confirmed that Nainar Nagendran, the seasoned Tirunelveli MLA and BJP legislature party leader, is replacing K Annamalai as Tamil Nadu BJP chief.

While the contestants were many, it was a relatively smooth ride for Nainar. With the party’s central leadership in Delhi confirming his eligibility to contest for the Tamil Nadu BJP chief position, waiving the 10-year membership requirement for him, and Annamalai opting out of the race, his ascent to the top was quick.

Also read: Annamalai out; EPS in: BJP's strategic ploy for 2026? | Talking Sense With Srini

Nainar's rise signals a strategic bid by the BJP to boost ties with the AIADMK. A three-time MLA with deep roots in southern Tamil Nadu, a former AIADMK minister, and a key figure in the influential Thevar community, he offers a blend of experience and coalition-building skills.

Yet, his journey has not been without challenges, from past legal controversies to internal party skepticism. This is the story of Nainar Nagendran, a political veteran who could make or break the BJP's electoral prospects in Tamil Nadu.

Early life, political entry

Born on October 16, 1960, in Thandaiyar Kulam, Radhapuram Taluk in Tirunelveli district, Nainar hails from the heart of southern Tamil Nadu.

Raised in a family rooted in the Maravar subsect of the Thevar community—a dominant socio-political group in the state—Nainar's early education took place in Tirunelveli, where he completed his schooling. He then pursued a bachelor’s degree in commerce from St Xavier’s College, Palayamkottai.

Nainar's political journey traces its roots to his early days in student politics. In the late 1980s, he began as a grassroots worker for the AIADMK in Tirunelveli, building connections with local leaders and earning a reputation for his accessibility.

His deep ties with the Thevar community gave him an edge, as the group has long been a key electoral force in southern districts like Tirunelveli, Thoothukudi, and Madurai. By the mid-1990s, Nainar had risen through the ranks, setting the stage for his electoral debut.

Rise to prominence

Nainar's first major political breakthrough came in 1991, when he contested the Tirunelveli Assembly election on an AIADMK ticket. He lost narrowly but drew the attention of J Jayalalithaa, who saw potential in the young leader.

In 2001, he won the Tirunelveli seat, defeating the DMK candidate by a significant margin. Subsequently, he proved to be an electorally bankable AIADMK legislator.

As an MLA, Nainar was known for his focus on constituency development, particularly in improving infrastructure, irrigation, and access to electricity in Tirunelveli. His tenure as a minister in Jayalalithaa’s cabinet between 2001 and 2006 further elevated his profile.

Under his watch, Tamil Nadu saw advancements in power distribution and industrial growth, though critics pointed to occasional delays in project execution. He developed a knack to navigate the AIADMK’s internal factions while maintaining a reasonably clean public image.

In the 2006 Assembly polls, he retained Tirunelveli despite a strong DMK wave. However, he lost to the DMK’s ALS Lakshmanan in 2011. The defeat was a setback, but Nainar remained active in party affairs, focusing on strengthening the AIADMK’s base in southern Tamil Nadu.

The shift to BJP

In December 2016, Jayalalithaa died following prolonged illness. The next year, Nainar made a surprise shift to the BJP. The decision came when the AIADMK was facing much internal strife, with rival factions led by Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) and TTV Dhinakaran vying for control.

Also read: Ahead of 2026 poll, Amit Shah's Chennai visit may look to reshape NDA in TN

Joining the BJP, however, was not without risks. The party had a limited presence in Tamil Nadu, with a vote share of just 3.5 per cent in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections. For Nainar, accustomed to the AIADMK’s dominance, aligning with a fringe player was viewed as a comedown of sorts.

He could leverage his grassroots network to bolster the BJP’s organisational structure in southern Tamil Nadu. His ability to connect with diverse communities, including minorities like Christians and Muslims in Tirunelveli, helped the BJP expand its reach beyond its traditional urban base.

Electoral win

Nainar's return to the electoral spotlight came in the 2021 Tamil Nadu Assembly election, when he contested in Tirunelveli as a BJP candidate under the NDA banner.

He defeated the DMK candidate by 23,107 votes, earning him the role of the legislature party leader.

Nainar also dabbled in national politics. In 2019, as a BJP candidate from Ramanathapuram, he secured 3,42,821 votes, garnering 32.31 per cent of the vote share, while in 2024, he polled 3,36,676 votes in Tirunelveli with a 31.5 per cent share. He lost, but the vote shares did not go unnoticed.

Controversies, too

Nainar's career has also been marred by controversies.

In 2010, the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC) filed a chargesheet against him and his family, alleging that they had accumulated assets worth ₹3.9 crore beyond their known sources of income during his tenure as an AIADMK minister.

The case, which remains under judicial review, has been a persistent shadow, with opponents using it to question his integrity. He has consistently denied the allegations, calling them politically motivated.

Road ahead

With K Annamalai stepping aside, reportedly to take up a role at the Centre, Nainar is poised to steer the party toward the 2026 Assembly polls in a renewed alliance with the AIADMK. His past association with EPS and his reputation for pragmatism make him an ideal candidate to mend ties strained by Annamalai’s criticism of AIADMK icons.

Also read: EPS-Shah meet ignites speculations of revival in BJP-AIADMK ties in TN

Yet, challenges loom large. Nainar must balance the expectations of the BJP’s core base, which favours an assertive Hindutva agenda, with the need to appeal to AIADMK voters rooted in Dravidian identity. The 2010 assets case, if revived by opponents, could dent his credibility.

His son Balaji Nainar shared heartfelt admiration for his father, describing him as a soft-spoken yet incisive leader. “Appa is very soft-spoken and very sharp at his point always,” Balaji, who is also a BJP leader, told The Federal. “I feel proud to see him as party head now.

“He is a very hard worker, he never gives up easily, but I would say he’s a very decent politician.”