Chennai: BJP Tamil Nadu unit is poised for a leadership change, with the party notifying the election for the state president and national council members on Thursday. BJP floor leader Nainar Nagenthran is likely to be introduced as the next president at a meeting scheduled at Shrivaaru Venkatachalapathy Palace in Vanagaram between 5pm and 8pm on Saturday, multiple sources told TOI.
The upcoming leadership change marks a significant development for the party in Tamil Nadu as it gears up for the 2026 assembly election. Election returning officer and state BJP vice-president M Chakravarthy issued the notification. “Those who are willing to contest shall submit their nominations at the headquarters on Friday between 2pm and 4pm,” he said.
The BJP constitution specifies that a candidate should be proposed by at least ten members of the state electoral college. It also says the candidate should be an active member for three terms and a primary member for 10 years. It raises questions about the eligibility of both the incumbent president K Annamalai and his likely successor Nagenthran. Nagenthran joined the BJP in 2017. Annamalai became state president in 2021, a year after joining the party.
Senior leaders said the national leadership can relax these rules. “Former Union minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar, who joined the party only in 2018, was appointed president of BJP Kerala unit last month,” pointed out a BJP leader, speaking about exceptions. “The party constitution does not mention the position of a working president, yet such appointments have been made.”
While many believe Nagenthran will be elected unopposed, some sections said a few other functionaries might file nominations. They include Raama Sreenivasan, Karuppu Muruganandham, and Pon V Balaganapathy. “Nagenthran was given a seat on the podium at PM Narendra Modi’s recent event in Rameswaram, signalling his importance. He also has the blessing of Union home minister Amit Shah (who happens to be in Chennai on Friday),” said a senior leader.
Preparations are underway for the meeting at a private hall in Vanagaram on Saturday. Party functionaries from across the state, including those from the mandal and district levels, have been asked to attend the meeting. Union Minister G Kishan Reddy, who is in charge of the election, will oversee the scrutiny of nominations.