Annamalai calls on Tamilisai, praises her hardwork for party; shares image on 'X'

Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai visited party leader Tamilisai Soundararajan here on Friday and said her political experience is providing impetus for the party's growth.

After calling on Soundararajan at her residence here, Annamalai, in a post on X, said he was extremely happy in visiting 'Akka Tamilisai,' a senior leader who functioned efficiently as the party's Tamil Nadu unit chief.

Soundararajan, when she led the party in the state resolutely said that lotus will bloom in Tamil Nadu and worked hard to achieve it. Her "political experience and her advice is continuously providing an impetus for the party's growth," Annamalai said.

இன்றைய தினம், மூத்த பாஜக தலைவர்களில் ஒருவரும், @BJP4Tamilnadu மாநிலத் தலைவராகத் திறம்படச் செயல்பட்டவருமான, அக்கா திருமதி @DrTamilisai4BJP அவர்கள் இல்லத்திற்குச் சென்று நேரில் சந்தித்ததில் பெருமகிழ்ச்சி.

தமிழகத்தில் தாமரை நிச்சயம் மலரும் என்பதை உறுதியுடன் கூறி, அதற்காகக் கடினமாக… pic.twitter.com/q22Iz7mYlv

— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 14, 2024

In a post on X, Soundararajan said she was happy to meet Annamalai.

தமிழக பாஜக மாநிலத்தலைவர் அன்புத்தம்பி திரு.அண்ணாமலை அவர்களை சந்தித்ததில் மகிழ்ச்சி....@annamalai_k @BJP4TamilNadu https://t.co/kabbgrdm8M

— Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@DrTamilisai4BJP) June 14, 2024

Annamalai's visit comes days after a war of words between supporters of Soundararajan and the Saffron party's state unit chief in the social media following BJP's electoral drubbing in Tamil Nadu.

Also, senior leader and Home Minister Amit Shah spoke to her during the swearing-in ceremony of N Chandrababu Naidu as Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister. A video clip of their conversation became a political talking point.

Putting speculation to rest, Soundararajan said on June 13: "Yesterday as I met our Honorable Home Minister Sri @AmitShah ji in AP for the first time after the 2024 elections he called me to ask about post poll follow-up and the challenges faced.

"As I was elaborating, due to paucity of time with utmost concern, he advised me to carry out the political and constituency work intensively which was reassuring. This is to clarify all unwarranted speculations," she said.

Soundararajan contested from the South Chennai Lok Sabha seat. She lost the election to DMK's Tamizhachi Thangapandian.

Her alleged comments on "criminal elements" in the BJP and that "the party would have won had there been an alliance with the AIADMK" were among the triggering factors. Annamalai's supporters opposed such remarks and hit out at her, using memes as well in social media, for jumping the gun.

Annamalai himself had pointed to the possibility of a win for the opposition in Tamil Nadu (AIADMK, BJP) in a number of constituencies if the votes of Saffron party and that of the AIADMK were added up, which showed that the winner had scored less than the opposition's combined score. However, he did not appear to have favoured an alliance with the AIADMK.

Subsequently, AIADMK leader SP Velumani too had spoken on the probability of victory in a number of seats had there been an alliance with the BJP. Later, AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami had again ruled out the scope for an alliance with the national party.