Chennai, 03 April (H.S.):The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday released its list of candidates for the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, naming nominees for all 27 constituencies allotted to it under the AIADMK-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA).

In a notable development, former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai has not been included in the candidate list. His absence has drawn attention, especially after he had reportedly expressed interest in contesting from the Coimbatore (North) constituency.

Among the prominent names announced, Union Minister of State L. Murugan will contest from the reserved Avinashi constituency. Former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan has been fielded from the high-profile Mylapore seat in Chennai. BJP Mahila Morcha national president Vanathi Srinivasan will once again contest from Coimbatore (North), a constituency she currently represents.

The party has also announced candidates for several other constituencies, including Keerthika Sivakumar from Modakkurichi, S. Vijayadharani from Vilavancode, and Nagesh Kumar from Thalli.

The BJP is contesting the elections as part of the AIADMK-led alliance in Tamil Nadu. As per the seat-sharing arrangement for the 234-member Assembly, the BJP has been allocated 27 seats. Other alliance partners include the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK), led by Anbumani Ramadoss, which will contest 18 seats, and the Amma Makkal Munnetra Kazhagam (AMMK) led by T.T.V. Dhinakaran, which has been allotted 11 seats.

While the AIADMK is yet to officially release its full list of candidates, it is expected to contest the majority of seats, with estimates suggesting it may field candidates in around 170 constituencies.

With the announcement of candidates, the BJP has intensified its preparations as the state heads into a high-stakes electoral battle.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman