NewsDrum Informals: Was Annamalai golfing a lot with Udhayanidhi?

BJP sources claim Annamalai’s sacking wasn’t about performance, but two “unforgivable” red flags—he stalled an AIADMK deal, and his alleged DMK proximity spooked Delhi

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Niraj Sharma
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Annamalai Udhayanidhi

New Delhi: Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai had earlier this week told the state leadership that he would not be able to take up the party's election-related work in six constituencies assigned to him for the upcoming assembly elections, scheduled to be held in April-May this year, due to his father's health condition.

A former Indian Police Service (IPS) officer, Annamalai, 41, is apparently upset with the party leadership for removing him as the Tamil Nadu unit president.

But sources told NewsDrum that there were definite reasons to sack him from the post. 

Firstly, he was the biggest hurdle in forging an alliance with the AIADMK and also blocked the entry of the AMMK, led by TTV Dinakaran into the NDA. Dinakaran is the nephew of VK Sasikala, a close and powerful aide of former chief minister J Jayalalithaa. 

Secondly and the most compelling reason is said to be the reports received by the BJP leadership that he was hobnobbing with the ruling DMK. 

According to BJP sources, Annamalai was on several occasions spotted at a golf course in Chennai along with chief minister MK Stalin's son Udhyanidhi Stalin. A cardinal sin as far as the BJP is concerned.

(NewsDrum Informals is an editoral feature, focussing on political whispers. It is our constant effort to offer unique and differentiating content to our readers. NewsDrum Informals brings the political grapevine to you and also keeps you abreast with the news circulating in the corridors of power. Stay tuned.

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Udhayanidhi Stalin Udhayanidhi Annamalai BJP IPS K Annamalai K Annamalai BJP Tamil Nadu Tamil Nadu BJP Tamil Nadu BJP chief DMK AIADMK AIADMK-BJP Alliance Tamil Nadu Elections Sasikala V K Sasikala VK Sasikala