Chennai/IBNS, April 4 -- Adding fuel to speculation that he may be replaced as the Tamil Nadu BJP president, K Annamalai has said that he is not in the running to be the next state chief of the party.

AIADMK chief Edapaddi K Palaniswami has made Annamalai's removal a precondition for allying with the party again ahead of the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections next year, NDTV reported, quoting sources.

Annamalai's criticism of AIADMK leaders was seen as the main reason for the party severing all ties with the BJP in 2023.

Even though the BJP did not make significant electoral gains in Tamil Nadu since Annamalai was appointed the chief of the state unit in 2021, the 40-year-old is credited with giving it much more visibility, which is signifi...