Nainar Nagendran files nomination for Tamil Nadu BJP top post

NEW DELHI: Nainar Nagendran, a BJP legislator representing Tamil Nadu's Tirunelveli constituency, submitted his nomination papers on Friday for the party's state president election.

Nagendran, currently the state vice president, was formerly with the AIADMK. He became the first candidate to submit papers at the BJP state headquarters, Kamalalayam in T Nagar.

The party confirmed that his nomination received endorsements from key figures including current party president K Annamalai, Union Minister L Murugan, former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan, and BJP legislator and Mahila Morcha President Vanathi Srinivasan.

Nagendran stands poised to succeed Annamalai as the new state president. His former alliance with AIADMK could help the BJP to may form the tie up with the party.

Earlier, AIADMK general secretary and Tamil Nadu leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami (EPS) met Union home minister Amit Shah, gives credence to reports that the BJP may be exploring an alliance with its former partner for the assembly elections in the state due next year.

Amit Shah-EPS meeting last month sparked intense political speculation about a possible revival of the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the state. However, reports claimed that AIADMK had put Annamalai's ouster as state party chief a precondition for any possible tie-up.

Nagendran’s elevation as the BJP’s state president comes at a time when Union home minister Amit Shah is visiting Tamil Nadu.