The Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) dismal performance in the recent Lok Sabha elections in Tamil Nadu has triggered internal discontent within the party. Several BJP leaders have openly criticized the election strategies employed by state party president K. Annamalai, who himself suffered a significant defeat in the Coimbatore constituency.
Despite a few candidates securing second place, the overall performance of the party has sparked serious debate and dissatisfaction among its ranks. Kalyana Raman, a prominent party member, noted that the BJP’s vote share had declined in 2024 compared to 2014, even though the party had fielded more candidates in the latter election. Raman also highlighted the party’s loss of deposits in 11 out of 23 seats contested, a significant increase from the two seats lost in 2014.
The discontent within the party has forced Annamalai to address these concerns. However, his attempts to downplay the issue have not fully appeased disgruntled party members. The overall mood within the BJP remains one of disappointment and introspection as the party grapples with the reasons behind its failure to make any significant gains in Tamil Nadu.
