In a sharp rebuttal to Thoothukudi MP Kanimozhi’s call for his resignation, Tamil Nadu BJP President Annamalai stated that unlike members of the DMK, he did not inherit his position due to familial connections. Kanimozhi had demanded that Annamalai take moral responsibility for the BJP’s defeat in the state elections and step down. In response, Annamalai retorted that he was not Karunanidhi’s son, referencing the former DMK patriarch and underscoring the dynastic politics often associated with the DMK.
Despite his charismatic personality, intellectual calibre, and straightforward political approach, Annamalai faced defeat in his maiden electoral attempt, which coincidentally fell on his birthday. This loss was a disappointment to BJP cadres, who had tirelessly campaigned for his victory. Annamalai attributed the defeat to several factors, including alleged voter manipulation, misinformation campaigns about the BJP’s stance on reservations, constitutional changes, and the misuse of central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Income Tax (IT) department for political vendettas.
Moreover, he criticised the DMK for failing to deliver on campaign promises such as reducing petrol and diesel prices to Rs. 65, providing LPG at Rs. 500, and offering monthly stipends to women. Despite these challenges, Annamalai managed to secure over 4.5 lakh votes, showcasing significant support amidst targeted attacks and alleged vote transfers by the AIADMK in favor of the DMK and its allies.
Annamalai’s “En Mann En Makkal” yatra, which spanned all 234 assembly constituencies over ten months, drew record crowds, particularly among youth, seniors, and women. While the yatra helped the BJP increase its vote share, it did not translate into electoral victories in Tamil Nadu. Political analysts had anticipated that the NDA alliance could secure half a dozen seats, but the BJP failed to win any seats.
Critics argued that Annamalai’s decision to campaign without aligning with the AIADMK was a strategic error. Nonetheless, a social media post highlighted that this was not the first time the BJP had outperformed Congress in Tamil Nadu. In the 2014 elections, the BJP received 5.56 per cent of the votes compared to Congress’s 4.37 per cent and won a Lok Sabha seat in Kanyakumari without alliances with either the DMK or AIADMK.
Despite the split vote, the BJP has made significant gains, emerging as the runner-up in many constituencies. In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the BJP secured a mere 3.66 per cent of votes (1,551,924 votes). This figure increased to 5.56% (2,223,566 votes) in 2014. However, the 2024 elections saw a remarkable surge, with the BJP receiving 48,80,954 votes, equating to 11.24 per cent of the total votes polled. This placed the BJP ahead of the Congress, which garnered 46,32,770 votes, or 10.67 per cent.
The BJP’s performance marks it as the third-largest party in the state. NDA candidates expressed gratitude to voters for their support and trust in Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Many acknowledged the need for introspection to identify and rectify the mistakes that hindered their success in the elections.
Annamalai, back to his clear and confident best in the press meet:
"If BJP was asked to ally with Naveen Patnaik 10 years back, would BJP have won Odisha today?From Zero seats in 2004, to 1 seat in 2009, now we are ruling Odisha.
This is how a party would grow – step by… pic.twitter.com/Gn0N2Dn280
— Tamil Labs 2.0 (@labstamil) June 5, 2024
Following the election results, Tamil Nadu BJP president Annamalai addressed the press on June 5th at the party headquarters in Chennai. He congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi on securing a third consecutive term, a feat unmatched since Jawaharlal Nehru. Annamalai highlighted the global significance of the NDA’s victory and acknowledged the challenges of achieving a third term in office.
When questioned about the BJP’s setback in Tamil Nadu and their failure to achieve the targeted 25 per cent vote share, Annamalai clarified that the party’s original target was 20 per cent, with the NDA alliance aiming for a combined 25 per cent . He emphasised the party’s hard work towards this goal, citing his own example in Coimbatore, where he secured 4.5 lakh votes without resorting to bribery. Annamalai expressed optimism about the party’s future, hoping for an even better performance in the 2026 assembly elections.
‘I come from a humble background, my father is a farmer, not a former CM. It might take me some time to gain your trust, but I am committed to working tirelessly for the development of our nation’
We salute you @annamalai_k you’ve been an inspiration to million of party… pic.twitter.com/sVVnGpdYD4
— Diksha Verma (@dikshaaverma) June 5, 2024
The AIADMK, once a formidable force in Tamil Nadu politics, has witnessed a significant decline in its vote share, falling to third place in terms of overall votes garnered in the 2024 elections. This decline marks a departure from its performance in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, where it secured 30.56% of the votes.
Under the combined leadership of Edappadi K. Palaniswami and O. Panneerselvam, AIADMK’s vote share has plummeted to 20.46 per cent in the recent elections, with the party being pushed to the third position in 12 constituencies. Moreover, in seven constituencies, including South Chennai, Kanyakumari, and Puducherry, the party failed to even secure the minimum votes required to retain their deposit.
In light of these setbacks, voices from within the AIADMK have emerged, advocating for a renewal of ties with the NDA alliance to challenge the dominance of the DMK in the upcoming 2026 assembly polls. Additionally, there are calls for replacing Palaniswamy with a charismatic leader from the old MGR camp, as under his leadership, the party has faced defeat in more than 10 polls.
