Nainar, Ponnar among key contenders for State BJP chief

BJP leader Nainar Nagendran and former Union Minister Pon Radhakrishnan who are now frequenting New Delhi to apprise the BJP top brass of the election schedule developments here, are top runners for the post, sources said.

“The question of who will become the next BJP president of Tamil Nadu replacing Tamilisai Soundararajan is doing the rounds and the cadre are eagerly waiting for the next president,” said a BJP functionary adding that the fight has narrowed down to Radhakrishan and Nagendran. 

At the same time, names of Vaanathi Srinivasan and KT Raghavan are also coming up,” the insider added.

“Earlier, elections for the post of party president was scheduled during mid December, but now the situation is such that the party needs a president to take over the poll works,” said BJP state treasurer SR Sekar.

 The media has also started speculations about this and the name may be announced this week itself, Sekar added.

According to BJP sources, factors like poll alliance particularly wooing superstar Rajinikanth towards the alliance, fighting the DMK- Congress combination and the hate campaign by pro-Tamil parties will be challenges awaiting the new BJP chief.