No rules were broken to make former IPS officer Annamalai BJP state vice-president, Vanathi Srinivasan says

COIMBATORE:

BJP state vice-president

Vanathi Srinivasan on Saturday said party rules were not broken to make former IPS officer

K Annamalai

another vice-president of the party. She said there were exceptions to the party’s structural rules, and Annamalai has been made the party’s vice-president through such an exception.

“The president can decide on changing the party’s rules. There is nothing wrong in this,” she said.


There was an instance of a person, who was not a party member, being made a minister, she said, and added that people such as Suresh Prabhu and S Jaishankar were given party postings as soon as they joined.

“There might be some changes in the party. Vice-presidents can be given other postings. Only party members can be concerned if a rule has been broken. But now party people are not worried, only outsiders are raising the issue,” she said.

All vice-presidents would have unique responsibilities. She said people shouldn’t think that because of a newcomer, existing representatives have lost power. “Everyone is carrying out their responsibilities,” she said.

“Annamalai’s arrival in the party has energized youngsters. It is a strength to the party. He would be given responsibilities soon,” she said.

Though people have been working for more than 20 years in the party, Annamalai’s posting has sent a message that BJP would recognize talented newcomers.

Annamalai was made BJP vice-president on August 29, four days after he joined the party. This makes the total number of BJP’s state vice-presidents 11.

“If actor Rajinikanth starts a party, we will support it,” she said replying a question by reporters. “Let him come as an additional soldier to the field, after that we can decide who the captain is,” she added.

Earlier on Saturday, Vellore M Ibrahim, state president of the Tamil Nadu Ekathuva Prachara Jamaat and a BJP supporter, met Vanathi and sought her support for his state-wide tour to explain the Centre’s schemes to people.


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