When BJP’s Annamalai Was Not Around During PM Modi’s Chennai Visit

Absence of Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai during PM Narendra Modi’s visit to Chennai over last weekend made for intense speculation in Tamil social media. Even the news media was abuzz with suggestions that the dynamic party leader had been asked to take a back seat in local politics to sort out issues with new AIADMK boss and former CM Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS). Regional media that have been hostile to Annamalai’s rising acceptance among local people almost had a field day hinting at his political epitaph. Little did they reveal that the former IPS officer was missing in Chennai with a purpose; he was after all handling poll-bound Karnataka along with Union Minister Dharmendra Pradhan. In fact he was closeted with Union Home Minister Amit Shah discussing BJP’s Karnataka list. As a Karnataka-cadre officer, party top brass valued Annamalai’s input. That means his rivals in Tamil Nadu be better prepared for a long haul: both inside & outside BJP.