The Tale Of Two State Party Presidents In Tamil Nadu

In the last few years, every time some election results are out, the story, with some rare exceptions, has been the same: the BJP making progress and the Congress licking its wounds, wondering what went wrong.

All kinds of social theories and political reasoning are usually ventured forth on such occasions. But one basic reason that could be at the core seldom gets mentioned: the Congress being loath to change. And on the contrary, the BJP being more pushy and plucky.

The contradistinction between the two parties couldn't be more apparent than it is now in Tamil Nadu, where the State presidents of both the parties seem to be under scrutiny. But the response from the parties' respective high commands in New Delhi couldn't be more different.

The BJP, despite the heavy pulls and pressures from various directions, seems ready to bite the bullet, while the Congress is watching unconcerned. Not unable to act. But just being unconcerned and blasé.

Though the official word on K. Annamalai's future as the State BJP president is still not out, the wide belief is that he is exiting the post. His tenure as the party president in Tamil Nadu officially ended a few months ago, but he has continued in the position as the party was weighing many options.

Is Annamalai being replaced?

Yesterday, Annamalai clarified that the selection of the next state president will be done unanimously, as per BJP's internal processes, and he will not be competing for the role. This, of course, can still mean that if the party's central leadership wishes, he can be asked to continue in the post.

But with a possible re-alliance looming between the BJP and the AIADMK — they had split in the run-up to last year's general elections, and one of the reasons for the parting of ways was that Annamalai had no love lost for the Edappadi Palaniswami-led party — there is enormous pressure on the national party to have a change of guard at the top in the State.

Palaniswami recently met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and the rumour mills have it that he laid the condition that Annamalai be replaced as the state president. Annamalai's leadership has been the point of contention, especially after his critical remarks about AIADMK leaders and Dravidian icons.

Annamalai, powerful but polarising

Annamalai, for his part, has stated that alliance decisions rest with the BJP's national leadership and that he will continue to work as a party cadre. But he also dropped hints that whatever inputs he had given to the party leadership were based on what he believed to be its best interests in the State.

The BJP, to be sure, is caught in a cleft stick. On the one hand, it has Annamalai, who, despite being a polarising force, is a powerful leader — the likes of which the party in the State has not seen so far.

The BJP under him scored a zero in the 2024 general elections — he himself lost from Coimbatore. It was a major embarrassment for both the party and him.

But his approach, widely described as abrasive, has also earned the IPS officer-turned-politico criticism. Some allege that his supporters on the social media platforms have made him look bigger than he actually is, metaphorically speaking.

Removing Annamalai from his post may be difficult for the BJP leadership. There is also speculation that Annamalai might be offered a central ministerial role, reflecting his long-term political relevance. Central Minister L. Murugan, Nainar Nagendran, and Vanathi Srinivasan are said to be in the race for the party leader post in the State.

These developments, whichever way they swing, would be particularly significant as Tamil Nadu gears up for the 2026 Assembly elections. The BJP is keen to strengthen its position in the state, and a potential alliance with AIADMK could be a strategic move to challenge the ruling DMK.

The thing is, by being ready to act one way or the other, the BJP is sending out signals that its leadership is alive to the developing situation.

Serious allegations, but TNCC is unmoved

This is where the Congress' story comes up short. There is equally a clamour for a change in its leadership in Tamil Nadu, where its state president Selvaperunthagai's continuity seems untenable.

If anything, the charges against Selvaperunthagai are serious (and criminal), and the Congress high command should be parachuting top leaders to solve the crisis. Selvaperunthagai is embroiled in significant controversies recently, particularly concerning allegations of orchestrating an attack on YouTuber Savukku Shankar. There is also the matter of his alleged connection to the murder of K. Armstrong, the former Tamil Nadu Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) chief.

Savukku Shankar has frontally accused Selvaperunthagai of orchestrating the despicable attack on his residence. The incident occurred after Shankar exposed an alleged scam involving the distribution of sewage cleaning vehicles — a scheme reportedly linked to Selvaperunthagai and his relatives and friends. A group of individuals, disguised as sanitation workers, stormed Shankar's home, vandalized the property, and dumped sewage and human waste inside.

Shankar's elderly mother was threatened during the attack, with intruders warning of further violence. The attack was live-streamed on social media by a supporter of Selvaperunthagai, further implicating the TNCC president. He has denied these allegations, and the case has been transferred to the Crime Branch–Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID).

Does Rahul or Priyanka know what’s happening with TNCC?

The murder of Armstrong has also cast a shadow over Selvaperunthagai. Armstrong was brutally killed outside his residence in July 2024 by a group of assailants, some disguised as food delivery agents. The murder is believed to have been motivated by a combination of revenge, caste rivalries, and business disputes.

The BSP leadership has alleged that Selvaperunthagai is closely associated with one of the prime suspects in the case, Nagendran, who is alleged to have orchestrated the murder. The street rumour is that the TNCC chief used Nagendran for criminal activities and hindered the investigation due to his political influence.

Annamalai is caught in a political battle, which is part and parcel of any party. But the issues dogging the TNCC chief are explosive. You would expect the media to discuss the latter. But in reality, all the focus is on the former. The narrative is set by whom in these parts is well known.

Up north too, no media seems to have broached the subject with Congress leaders in Delhi. It is unclear whether Rahul or Priyanka know what is actually happening down South. No wonder the party's prospects are also going south consistently.