Annamalai steps-down as election in-charge, is he contesting TN assembly polls ? Details here
Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu BJP Chief K. Annamalai has announced his decision to step-down as the party’s election-incharge, days after his appointment. The announcement came as a surprise to his own party men, reported The Week.
This comes at a time when the BJP in alliance with the AIADMK is aiming to field its candidates from maximum number of seats.
Annamalai said he resigned from the responsibility due to personal reasons. Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, he said, “I have informed the High Command that I will not be able to carry out these duties. My father is unwell and I need to be with him. That is my first priority. I cannot travel much and will be spending more time in Coimbatore.”
However, according to party sources quoted by The Week, there may be more to the decision. Annamalai is said to be upset with the current BJP leadership for limiting his role to just six Assembly constituencies and for expecting him to work under the AIADMK leadership. Sources also say he has felt sidelined since Nainar Nagendran took over as the Tamil Nadu BJP president.
As per reports, Annamalai was kept out of key alliance discussions with the AIADMK and was later brought in only to help bring TTV Dhinakaran’s AMMK into the NDA. He had been tasked by the central leadership in December to speak to Dhinakaran. After the alliance talks were finalised, sources claim Annamalai felt ignored by both the state and central leadership.
Sources cited by The Week also point out that despite touring the entire state during the En Mann, En Makkal yatra ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections and helping improve the BJP’s vote share, Annamalai’s presence in state party events has reduced sharply over the past six months. Also he was upset with the state leadership having a soft approach towards the AIADMK.
Reports suggest that he largely stayed away from state-level programmes but attended events when Prime Minister Narendra Modi or Home Minister Amit Shah visited Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai was appointed election in-charge for six Assembly constituencies, namely Karaikudi, Srivaikuntam, Virugambakkam, Singanallur, Madurai (South) and Padmanabapuram. These seats are spread across different regions of the state, with no geographical link. Party insiders say he was upset about being limited to these segments, especially after taking on both the DMK and the AIADMK during the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
Quoting a senior BJP leader, The Week reports, “He played a key role in strengthening the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Restricting him to six seats is unfair.”
Annamalai was expected to campaign across the state for the NDA. However, sources say that if his relationship with AIADMK leader Edappadi K. Palaniswami does not improve and if the BJP leadership continues to sideline him, he may limit his campaigning to AMMK candidates.
On whether he will contest the upcoming Assembly elections, Annamalai remained non-committal. Responding to a question from the media, he said, “I will discuss the matter with the party leadership before taking any decision.”
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
3 Indians arrested in Canada for shooting outside home
Ottawa (PTI): Three Indian nationals have been arrested by Canadian police on an anti-extortion patrol and charged after bullets were fired at a home.
Harjot Singh (21), Taranveer Singh (19) and Dayajeet Singh Billing (21) face one count each of discharging a firearm, and all have been remanded in custody until Thursday, the Surrey Police Service (SPS) said in a statement on Monday.
The suspects were arrested by patrol officers after an early morning report of shots fired and a small fire outside a home in Surrey's Crescent Beach neighbourhood, the LakelandToday reported.
On February 1, 2026, the SPS members were patrolling in Surrey’s Crescent Beach neighbourhood when reports came in of shots being fired and a small fire outside a residence near Crescent Road and 132 Street.
The three accused were arrested by SPS officers a short time later, the statement said.
SPS’s Major Crime Section took over the investigation, and the three men have now been charged with Criminal Code offences, it said.
All three have been charged with one count each of discharging a firearm into a place contrary to section 244.2(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
The investigation is ongoing, and additional charges may be forthcoming. All three have been remanded in custody until February 5, 2026.
The SPS has confirmed they are all foreign nationals and has engaged the Canada Border Services Agency, it said.
One of the suspects suffered injuries, including two black eyes, the media report said.
Surrey police Staff Sgt. Lindsey Houghton said on Monday that the suspect had refused to comply with instructions to get out of the ride-share vehicle and started to "actively resist."
"As we were trained, he was taken to the ground and safely handcuffed," said Houghton.
A second suspect with a black eye was also injured in the arrest after refusing to comply, Houghton said.
The arresting officers were part of Project Assurance, an initiative that patrols neighbourhoods that have been targeted by extortion violence.
Houghton said the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is also involved because the men are foreign nationals, and the trio may face additional charges.
It's not clear if the men are in the country on tourist visas, a study permit, or a work permit, but Houghton said CBSA has started its own investigation into the men's status.
Surrey has seen a number of shootings at homes and businesses over the last several months, but there's been an escalation since the new year.
