Why Annamalai skipped PM’s welcome? I don’t know, says MLA Vanathi

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan clarified why Annamalai did not receive Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Coimbatore, stating party leadership assigns responsibilities, while also criticising DMK and commenting on seat-sharing talks.

Coimbatore:

BJP MLA Vanathi Srinivasan on Sunday clarified the absence of Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent visit to Coimbatore, stating that such decisions are taken by the party leadership based on assigned responsibilities.

Responding to questions from reporters, she said there was no issue regarding protocol and that the party high command decides who should receive senior leaders. “The leadership knows who should be given what responsibility,” she said, addressing speculation over Annamalai’s absence.

Vanathi Srinivasan also stated that discussions on constituency allocation are currently underway, with Union Minister L Murugan and state BJP president Nainar Nagendran holding consultations on seat-sharing and candidate positioning.

Taking a strong political stance, she criticised the DMK government, alleging that sending a “tainted minister” to Coimbatore amounted to disrespecting the people of the city. She said the move reflected poorly on the ruling party’s approach towards the region.

She also targeted the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam, questioning the stability of its candidates. “It is unclear where their candidates will be even after 10 days,” she said, taking a dig at the party ahead of the elections.

The remarks come at a time when political activity is intensifying in Tamil Nadu ahead of the 2026 Assembly elections, with parties actively engaged in alliance negotiations and campaign planning.

Vanathi Srinivasan’s comments highlight ongoing discussions within the BJP while also reflecting the sharpening political exchanges between parties in the run-up to the polls.

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