K. Annamalai On Breaking Old Orders, Building New Narratives | India Today Conclave South 2025

In an exclusive interview, former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai affirmed the party's total commitment to its alliance with the AIADMK for the 2026 state election. He stated that party workers would support Edappadi K. Palaniswami as the NDA's chief ministerial candidate. Annamalai acknowledged that six months prior, he would have advocated for the BJP to contest elections alone to expand its individual presence. However, he now supports the national leadership's decision for an alliance, deeming it necessary to oust the ruling DMK. He noted that the DMK currently holds the position of the 'number one party' in the state, with anti-incumbency yet to manifest. Annamalai addressed the entry of actor Vijay into politics, identifying him as a competitor who connects with the Gen Z demographic, which he stated makes the election a tough, three-way contest. He also commented on internal party dynamics, dismissing discussions of an 'anti-Annamalai camp' and comparing disagreements within the Tamil Nadu BJP to 'happy fights' within a family. The politician outlined a strategy to achieve electoral peak closer to the polls, targeting momentum in late February or early March, while conceding that the DMK may currently appear to be ahead. #kannamalai #tamilnadubjp #indiatodayconclavesouth #aiadmk #tamilnadupolitics #dmk #edappadipalaniswami #epsforcm #tamilnaduelections #nda #annamalaiinterview #indiatodayconclave #indianpolitics #coimbatore #alliance #statepolls #annamalai #elections2026 #actorvijay #thalapathyvijay #genz #politicalinterview #southindia #indiatoday #tamilnadu Subscribe to India Today for NEW VIDEOS EVERY DAY and make sure to enable Push Notifications so you'll never miss a new video. All you need to do is PRESS THE BELL ICON next to the Subscribe button! India Today TV is India's leading English News Channel. India Today YouTube channel offers latest news videos on Politics, Business, Cricket, Bollywood, Lifestyle, Auto, Technology, Travel, Entertainment and a lot more. Stay tuned for latest updates and in-depth analysis of news from India and around the world! WhatsApp Channel: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va2A... Download App: https://indiatoday.link/wHaj Follow us: Official website: https://www.indiatoday.in/ Twitter:   / indiatoday   Facebook:   / indiatoday