Lok Sabha elections 2024: How debutant K Annamalai can enable BJP’s re-entry in Tamil Nadu

On Wednesday, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) candidate for Tamil Nadu's Coimbatore constituency K Annamalai filed his nomination for the Lok Sabha elections 2024. "BJP is confident of winning more than 400 seats this year at the Centre and that will include the representative from Coimbatore," Annamalai said while speaking to the media after submitting his election papers.

"The DMK and the AIADMK have joined hands to fight the BJP, but our fight is against those stopping Coimbatore's development or selling ganja". "We don't talk about minorities or majority here. Coimbatore has the risk of being targeted by fundamentalists and extremists, and the State and Central governments should protect all the people here," Annamalai said in his typical fiery style.

The 38-year-old K Annamalai is one such leader who swiftly rose through BJP ranks and became the perfect fit for the party to foray into Tamil Nadu. In the state which sends 39 parliamentarians to Lok Sabha, the BJP has none. For the party to achieve its goal of winning over 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls, the electoral gains in the southern states play a major role.

The BJP has a strong hold on the Hindi heartland; however, it has repeatedly failed to make any significant mark in southern India. PM Narendra Modi has visited Tamil Nadu at least seven times in 2024 so far. Even after the election schedule was announced, Modi chose Coimbatore for the first campaign rally.

PM Modi's frequent visits to the state highlight the party's spirited cadre base led by K Annamalai is well-positioned and the BJP leadership's belief in its ‘Singham' leader Annamalai to ensure its foot-holding in Tamil Nadu.

‘Singham Anna' to BJP's prominent leader

Annamalai is an interesting personality. His journey has been remarkable, transitioning from a tough police officer, where he earned the moniker ‘Singham Anna', to becoming a firebrand politician. He hails from a simple agricultural family in the Karur district, studied mechanical engineering at a premier institute in Coimbatore and MBA from IIM-Lucknow. Annamalai cracked the UPSC and became an IPS of the 2011 batch in the Karnataka cadre.

Also Read: Can BJP achieve its 370-plus seats target in 2024 Lok Sabha polls?

In his eight-year career, Annamalai gained a reputation as a tough cop, leading undercover crackdowns on gutka sales, campaigning against drug abuse and several other actions as an IPS. However, he quit the force in 2019, resigning as the Deputy Commissioner of Bengaluru.

In 2020 he joined the BJP and in no time, he climbed ranks with sole focus on increasing the party's footprints in the state. He became the youngest BJP state president. Though Annamalai lacks electoral victories; his fierce, confrontational approach and the boost he has given to the BJP on the ground have earned him accolades and followings from youngsters.

Annamalai's relentless efforts to expand the BJP's influence in Tamil Nadu have been evident through initiatives like his extensive "En Mann, En Makkal" padayatra, which covered all 234 constituencies of the state. This grassroots approach has garnered widespread support.

The fact that despite losing the assembly elections of 2021, he has been nominated for the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore constituency emphasizes the BJP's strong backing for the young leader.

Why the Coimbatore constituency is crucial for the BJP

Winning the Coimbatore Lok Sabha seat would mean a re-entry of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. The BJP's association with Coimbatore dates back to 1998 when the city witnessed 12 bombings killing 58 people and injuring over 200. The attacks took place during BJP veteran and then deputy prime minister LK Advani's visit to the city, and allegedly the blasts were targeting the election meeting Advani was scheduled to attend. PM Modi during his recent visit to Coimbatore ensured to pay homage to the deceased.

Notably, the BJP had won the Coimbatore seat in 1998 and 1999. The communal sensitivity helped the BJP garner the Hindu vote bank. However, since then the BJP could not make any significant electoral gain in the state, or rather southern India.

Tamil Nadu politics has always been dominated by the two major Dravidian parties, DMK and the AIADMK. However, since K Annamalai joined the BJP, he has left no stone unturned to activate the dormant BJP in the state.

What expert say

Political strategist Prashant Kishore speaking with the media recently said that the vote share of the BJP in Tamil Nadu is most likely to increase to double digits in the Lok Sabha 2024 elections. During the 2014 general elections, BJP's vote share in Tamil Nadu was 5.5 per cent and in 2019 it fell to 3.66 per cent.

Political commentator Ashok Wankhede claimed that BJP's target of winning over 370 seats in the upcoming Lok Sabha is not possible. "They need to fill 67 more seats, and at present southern states is the only region where BJP can garner more seats. However, the chances are very dim." "In states like Tamil Nadu, Kerala or Telangana, with stronger regional parties and Congress' presence, BJP with extensive campaigning and excellent election management can increase its vote share. But winning a higher number of seats is difficult," Wankhede said.

The BJP is contesting 23 seats in Tamil Nadu for the upcoming Lok Sabha. It is also in alliance with the New Justice Party and other smaller parties.

If BJP's prominent candidate and face for Tamil Nadu, K Annamalai's efforts will result electoral win for the party, only time can reveal.

Tamil Nadu will go for the Lok Sabha elections in a single phase on April 19. The results will be declared on June 4.