In a major political clarification ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader K. Annamalai has stated that his absence from the party’s candidate list was a personal decision and not a denial of ticket by the leadership.

Speaking to reporters after arriving in Chennai, the former IPS officer said he had already informed the party’s top leadership that he would not contest the elections. His statement comes amid growing speculation after his name was missing from BJP’s final list of candidates.

Annamalai clarified that he had communicated his decision well in advance to senior leaders including Union Minister Piyush Goyal, BJP national general secretary B. L. Santhosh, and party president Nitin Nabin. He emphasized that even the internal list of probable candidates sent for approval did not include his name.

Dismissing media reports suggesting internal rifts, Annamalai said his current responsibility is to campaign extensively for BJP and its allies under the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). He added that the party has assigned him campaigning duties in Puducherry and Kerala initially, followed by Tamil Nadu until the end of the election phase.

“I have been given the responsibility to strengthen the party’s outreach, and I will fully focus on that,” he said, underlining his commitment to the campaign rather than contesting a seat.

Annamalai had earlier emerged as a prominent face of BJP in Tamil Nadu, especially after the party improved its vote share significantly in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. However, his removal as the state BJP chief last year triggered political discussions, particularly after AIADMK rejoined the NDA alliance.

Political observers have linked his exit from the top post to alliance dynamics, with reports suggesting that AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami had pushed for leadership changes as part of the alliance negotiations.

There were also indications that Annamalai had reservations about the BJP-AIADMK alliance and the seat-sharing formula, where BJP received a limited number of constituencies compared to its ally. He was reportedly given charge of a handful of seats for the assembly polls but stepped aside, citing personal reasons, including his father’s health.

Despite the speculation, Annamalai maintained that his decision was voluntary and not influenced by internal disagreements. His statement aims to put an end to ongoing rumours and shift focus back to the BJP’s election campaign strategy.

Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on April 23, with counting scheduled for May 4. As the campaign intensifies, Annamalai is expected to play a key role in mobilising support for BJP and NDA candidates across the state.