Tamilisai Denies Rift
Tamilisai Soundararajan addressed the speculation on Thursday, clarifying that there was no rift within the Tamil Nadu BJP. She stated, “On Wednesday, I met Amit Shah for the first time after the 2024 elections. He called me to discuss post-poll follow-up and the challenges faced. As I elaborated, due to paucity of time, he advised me to carry out political and constituency work intensively, which was reassuring. This is to clarify all unwarranted speculations.”
Reports of Internal Discord
Reports of internal discord between Tamilisai and BJP state president K Annamalai emerged following the party’s poor performance in the Lok Sabha polls in Tamil Nadu. Tamilisai, who resigned from her governor’s post in March, unsuccessfully contested in the Chennai South Parliamentary constituency. Supporters of both leaders have clashed on social media, further fueling the controversy.
Reactions from Political Circles
The controversy gained more attention with reactions from various political figures. DMK spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai criticized the interaction, questioning the appropriateness of Shah’s public reprimand. Additionally, the Kerala Pradesh Congress condemned BJP’s “culture and attitude towards women.”
BJP State Unit Meeting
Amidst the ongoing speculation, sources reported that the BJP state unit’s core committee held an online meeting on Wednesday to discuss the Vikravandi bypoll. According to insiders, there was no mention of Tamilisai’s remarks or the interaction with Amit Shah during the meeting.
Future of Tamil Nadu BJP
Union Minister for Commerce Piyush Goyal, who is in charge of Tamil Nadu, has sought a report from members of the state BJP’s core committee regarding the infighting and other issues. Party insiders indicate that a revamp of the state BJP unit may be imminent to ensure better performance in the upcoming 2026 assembly elections.
Tamilisai, the daughter of Congress veteran Kumari Anandan, faced criticism on social media. BJP Tamil Nadu social media cell vice president Karthik Gopinath commented on the interaction, suggesting it looked like a strong admonishment from Shah.
(With inputs from TOI)
