A major political rift has surfaced in Tamil Nadu just weeks before the Assembly elections, with senior BJP leader K Annamalai reportedly expressing strong dissatisfaction over the party’s seat-sharing arrangement with ally AIADMK.

According to sources, Annamalai has written to the BJP’s central leadership in Delhi, raising concerns over the constituencies allocated to the party. He is said to be particularly unhappy that key seats considered favourable for BJP victories — including Kinathukadavu — were not given to the party as part of the alliance deal.

In a significant development, Annamalai has reportedly informed the party leadership that he may not contest the upcoming Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, a move that could impact BJP’s campaign momentum in the state.

The discontent is not limited to the leadership level. Grassroots workers have also shown anger over the arrangement, with BJP cadres staging protests in Kinathukadavu, signalling growing frustration within the party ranks.

Under the alliance formula, AIADMK will contest 169 out of the total 234 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party has been allocated 27 constituencies. Other alliance partners have also received their share, with PMK getting 18 seats and AMMK allotted 11 seats.

Tamil Nadu will go to polls in a single phase on April 23 for all 234 Assembly constituencies, with counting of votes scheduled for May 4, 2026. With tensions now emerging within the alliance, the development has added a new layer of uncertainty to an already high-stakes electoral battle in the state.