“BJP is a very big party with over 1,000 MLAs and more than 300 MPs, and I am very proud to become a state president of this party,” Nagenthiran said after the announcement.
#WATCH | Chennai, Tamil Nadu: BJP MLA Nainar Nagendran elected as the president of Tamil Nadu BJP unit; former state unit president K Annamalai congratulates him pic.twitter.com/YsELg2UECW
— ANI (@ANI) April 12, 2025
This comes a day after the saffron party announced its alliance with the AIADMK ahead of the 2026 Tamil Nadu assembly elections, in the presence of Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
During the filing of the nomination, he was accompanied by several prominent leaders, including K Annamalai. After filing his papers, Nagendran said that he filed them based on the party’s suggestion. “You have to ask senior leaders about the final decision.”
Chennai | After filing his nomination for Tamil Nadu BJP President election, state BJP Vice President Nainar Nagenthiran says, ” As per party’s suggestion, I have filed nomination for State President post. You have to ask senior leaders about the final decision” https://t.co/I4mzynwH2u pic.twitter.com/OJ0ipbE8Fw
— ANI (@ANI) April 11, 2025
Union Home Minister Amit Shah confirmed the development, writing, “The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of state president only from Shri Nainar Nagendran.” He praised Annamalai’s contributions to the party while he served as Tamil Nadu BJP president.
The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of state president only from Shri @NainarBJP Ji.
As the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Shri @annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. Whether it is carrying the policies of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji to…— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 11, 2025
Who is Nainar Nagendran?
Nainar Nagendran started his political journey with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and won the Tirunelveli Assembly seat in 2001 and again in 2011 as an AIADMK candidate.
He served as a minister in the government led by Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa from 2001 to 2006.
In 2017, Nagendran parted ways with the AIADMK and joined the BJP.
In the 2021 assembly election, he contested as a BJP candidate and became an MLA for the third time.
Nagendran also contested the Lok Sabha polls in 2019 and 2024. However, he lost on both occasions.
He has been the BJP state vice president since July 3, 2020.
Nagendran is believed to be close to top party leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
(Edited by : Sudarsanan Mani)
First Published: Apr 11, 2025 6:43 PM IST
