Vanathi Srinivasan (right), Coimbatore South MLA, boasts a long-standing BJP affiliation and a rising profile. Pon Radhakrishnan, a former Union minister, is another key contender to take over as Tamil Nadu BJP chief.
Vanathi Srinivasan, Pon Radhakrishnan top contenders in TN BJP chief race
BJP high command has set a condition requiring candidates to have at least 10 years of continuous party membership; this criterion rules out some known faces
The race for the Tamil Nadu BJP presidency has taken a dramatic turn as key frontrunners K Annamalai, Nainar Nagendran, and Tamilisai Soundararajan appear to be completely out of the reckoning. The party’s call for applications for the state general secretary post comes attached with stringent eligibility criteria, which these leaders may not meet.
The BJP high command has set a condition requiring candidates to have at least 10 years of continuous party membership. The rule could reshape the leadership contest ahead of the state party elections expected later this month.
K Annamalai, the current Tamil Nadu BJP president, has already confirmed he is stepping aside from the race. Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore last week, he had emphasised that the party's selection of its next leader will be an unanimous one. “I am not in the race,” he said.
Not eligible
Sources suggest that Annamalai, who joined the BJP in 2020, falls short of the 10-year membership requirement, effectively ruling him out. Though his tenure has been marked by aggressive campaigns and a growing party presence, his leadership style has invited mixed reactions.
Nainar Nagendran, a seasoned politician and Tirunelveli MLA, also faces disqualification under the same yardstick. He joined the BJP in 2017 after quitting the AIADMK. Despite his recent trip to Delhi to meet senior leaders like Amit Shah, insiders claim he is more or less ruled out.
His exclusion can disappoint his supporters who saw him as a strong contender with administrative experience.
Tamilisai Soundararajan, a veteran BJP loyalist and former state chief, is another high-profile candidate who has to step aside. Her stint as Telangana governor from 2019 to 2024 interrupted her active party membership, rendering her ineligible under the 10-year continuity rule. While Tamilisai has expressed willingness to return to party roles, this technicality dims her prospects.
New contenders
With these exclusions, attention shifts to new contenders: Vanathi Srinivasan, Pon Radhakrishnan and Karuppu Muruganandham. Vanathi, the Coimbatore South MLA and national Mahila Morcha president, boasts a long-standing BJP affiliation and a rising profile. Ponnar, former central minister, is another contender but his age can be setback.
Karuppu Muruganandham, who is lesser-known but is an organisationally rooted leader, is also in the fray, potentially appealing to the party’s grassroots base.
The BJP’s decision, expected between April 8 and 10, comes amid talks of a possible alliance with the AIADMK for the 2026 polls, adding more intrigue to this leadership shuffle.
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