I chose not to contest Tamil Nadu polls: Annamalai

06-Apr-2026

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Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai clarified that his absence from the party's candidate list for the upcoming Assembly elections is due to his own decision not to contest. He had formally informed party leaders and thanked them for respecting this choice. Though speculated to be unhappy with seat-sharing, especially in Coimbatore, Annamalai will support NDA alliance candidates. The 234-member Tamil Nadu Assembly election polling is set for April 23.

He said that he had formally communicated his decision to the party leadership in writing well in advance. "I have already informed the core committee that I will not contest from any constituency. So, it is not that I was denied a ticket. The truth is that I did not want to contest," he said.

"How can the leadership allocate a ticket to me when I do not want to contest?" he said, adding that he was clarifying the matter as it had become a subject of media discussion.

"I would actively support alliance nominees in the state," he added.