Annamalai skips Vanathi’s candidate introduction meet

Coimbatore: Speculation regarding an internal rift within BJP intensified on Sunday, when former state president K Annamalai, who was in the city, gave a miss to the candidate introduction meeting for Coimbatore North constituency candidate Vanathi Srinivasan.The meeting, organized by NDA, was held at a private marriage hall near Ganapathy to formally introduce Vanathi Srinivasan, BJP's national women's wing president, as the Coimbatore North constituency candidate. Earlier, upon her arrival at the city airport, Vanathi had informed reporters that Annamalai would be participating in the event. Sources suggest that Annamalai was an aspirant for the Coimbatore North constituency, which eventually went to Vanathi Srinivasan. While scores of BJP party workers and alliance partners gathered at the venue, eager to hear Annamalai speak, his absence left many supporters disappointed. Meanwhile, clarifying his whereabouts, Annamalai took to X to share that he had visited the residence of state BJP general secretary A P Muruganandam to offer his condolences following the demise of Muruganandam's father Palanisamy Gounder. "Deeply saddened to hear about the passing of Shri Palanisamy Gounder. Visited the family today to express my heartfelt condolences to A P Muruganandam and his kin," he posted on X.