COIMBATORE: Amid speculation that the BJP high command was planning a leadership change in Tamil Nadu union of the party, state president K Annamalai has said he was not in the race for the next TN chief post.
" I am not in the competition for the state president's post,'' Annamalai told reporters in Coimbatore when asked about reports of leadership change in TN.
Annamalai said that the election for the next state president would be conducted soon. "I will speak in detail after the election,'' he said.
When asked whether BJP wanted to change the leadership to facilitate a BJP-AIADMK alliance, Annamalai said he doesn't want to comment. "As far as I am concerned, this party, which has a lot of good people, should flourish. We will speak about the rest of the issues after the election of the new president,'' he said.
To a specific query whether he would be made a Union minister, Annamalai said that he would not leave TN. "Why are you keen to pack me away? I will not leave TN,'' he said.
Annamalai said that he will continue to discharge his duty as a party cadre. "The attempt to bring a corruption-free govt will continue. I will do what the party asks me to do,'' he said.
He said BJP state presidents are chosen through consensus. "It is not like 50 people contest for the post and one is elected through voting. Here, presidents are chosen unanimously,'' he said.
Annamalai's comments come in the backdrop of speculation that BJP was eyeing an alliance with AIADMK and that national high command was planning to replace Annamalai with a leader who is more amicable towards AIADMK. In the past Annamalai has spoken against an alliance with AIADMK.
Annamalai's tone towards AIADMK had changed days after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Back then, Annamalai said he would not be a stumbling block for anyone.
His remarks have assumed significance as it comes two days before the visit of Prime minister Narendra Modi to TN. There is speculation that EPS as well ousted AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam are likely to meet Modi during his April 6 visit.
" I am not in the competition for the state president's post,'' Annamalai told reporters in Coimbatore when asked about reports of leadership change in TN.
Annamalai said that the election for the next state president would be conducted soon. "I will speak in detail after the election,'' he said.
When asked whether BJP wanted to change the leadership to facilitate a BJP-AIADMK alliance, Annamalai said he doesn't want to comment. "As far as I am concerned, this party, which has a lot of good people, should flourish. We will speak about the rest of the issues after the election of the new president,'' he said.
To a specific query whether he would be made a Union minister, Annamalai said that he would not leave TN. "Why are you keen to pack me away? I will not leave TN,'' he said.
Annamalai said that he will continue to discharge his duty as a party cadre. "The attempt to bring a corruption-free govt will continue. I will do what the party asks me to do,'' he said.
He said BJP state presidents are chosen through consensus. "It is not like 50 people contest for the post and one is elected through voting. Here, presidents are chosen unanimously,'' he said.
Annamalai's comments come in the backdrop of speculation that BJP was eyeing an alliance with AIADMK and that national high command was planning to replace Annamalai with a leader who is more amicable towards AIADMK. In the past Annamalai has spoken against an alliance with AIADMK.
Annamalai's tone towards AIADMK had changed days after AIADMK general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami met Union home minister Amit Shah in Delhi. Back then, Annamalai said he would not be a stumbling block for anyone.
His remarks have assumed significance as it comes two days before the visit of Prime minister Narendra Modi to TN. There is speculation that EPS as well ousted AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam are likely to meet Modi during his April 6 visit.
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