Nainar Nagenthiran is new Tamil Nadu BJP president, replaces Annamalai

After Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, Nainar Nagenthiran joined BJP

Tirunelveli MLA Nainar Nagenthiran  on Friday replaced Annamalai as the Tamil Nadu BJP chief . No other candidate has filed nomination for the state president post.

"The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of state president only from Shri@NainarBJPJi. As the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Shri@annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. Whether it is carrying the policies of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji to people or the programs of the party from village to village, Annamalai Ji's contribution has been unprecedented. The BJP will leverage Annamalai Ji's organizational skills in the party's national framework," Union Home Minister Amit Shah posted on X.

The Tamil Nadu BJP has received a nomination for the post of state president only from Shri @NainarBJP Ji.As the President of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit, Shri @annamalai_k Ji has made commendable accomplishments. Whether it is carrying the policies of PM Shri @narendramodi Ji to
Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 11, 2025

Who is Nagenthiran?

The BJP leader  began his political career with AIADMK, serving as an MLA from 2001 to 2016 and as Tamil Nadu’s Transport Minister from 2011 to 2016. After Jayalalithaa’s death in 2016, he joined the BJP in 2017. He has been Tamil Nadu BJP vice president since 2020 and won the Tirunelveli MLA seat in 2021. His switch to BJP followed internal AIADMK factionalism.

However, he was unsuccessful in his bids for the Lok Sabha in both 2019 and 2024. Nagendran was also spotted on the  present on stage alongside Narendra Modi during a recent event in Rameswaram, where the Prime Minister inaugurated the Pamban Bridge.

Ahead of his appointment, Nagenthiran said, " As per party's suggestion, I have filed nomination for State President post. You have to ask senior leaders about the final decision."

Nagendran’s appointment as the BJP’s state president comes at a time when Union Home Minister Amit Shah is visiting Tamil Nadu.

During his two-day Chennai visit, Shah would hold meetings with the state BJP leaders to take stock of the situation and the party’s functioning. His schedule includes meetings with the BJP functionaries and RSS ideologue S Gurumurthy.