BJP’s plan if Annamalai loses and why Siddaramaiah did not go after BSY | Powertrip

Welcome to Powertrip, a political newsletter exclusively curated for TNM subscribers by Dhanya Rajendran, Shabbir Ahmed, and Pooja Prasanna. In this issue, we explore two main stories. First, we delve into the future of BJP Tamil Nadu President Annamalai. What will happen if he wins or loses the election? The second story examines the dilemmas facing Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah as his political rival BS Yediyurappa is accused of child sexual assault. .What next for Annamalai?Tamil Nadu BJP leader Annamalai has been the national media’s darling this election, with many predicting an easy win for him in Coimbatore. But what if he doesn’t win? There’s strong buzz that if the BJP returns to power but Annamalai loses in his state, he will still be accommodated as a Minister of State. This would likely require making him a Rajya Sabha member. Sources say there are two reasons for this: first, Narendra Modi’s significant investment in Tamil Nadu, where making Annamalai an MoS would demonstrate his commitment to including the state in his plans. This mirrors the previous TN BJP president L Murugan’s appointment as an MoS and Rajya Sabha member from Madhya Pradesh.The second, more practical reason is the BJP’s goal to perform well in the 2026 state elections, which requires mending ties with the AIADMK, their former ally. Annamalai’s leadership could hinder this reconciliation, so the BJP might want to appoint a different state president.So, who might succeed Annamalai? Two names being discussed are Tamilisai Soundararajan and Vanathi Srinivasan. Tamilisai was the TN BJP president from 2014 to 2019 and the former Governor of Telangana and Puducherry who resigned to contest in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls. However, insiders believe Coimbatore-based MLA Vanathi Srinivasan is the more likely candidate, given her good rapport with AIADMK strongman SP Velumani, which could help facilitate negotiations with the AIADMK. Why Siddaramaiah did not go after BSYA 53-year-old woman who had filed a complaint against BJP leader BS Yediyurappa (BSY) for allegedly sexually assaulting her minor daughter passed away recently, due to complications from cancer. Even as the woman’s death made news, questions are now being raised if the Siddaramaiah government went soft on BSY when the complaint was filed in March. We made some queries and found that once the FIR was lodged, the Congress was divided into two camps. One faction believed a move against BSY won’t work while the other saw this as an opportune moment to strike. Deputy Chief Minister DK Shivakumar (DKS) advised caution, warning Siddaramaiah that targeting BSY could offend the Lingayat community. DKS is known for his close ties with BSY. In contrast, IT/BT Minister Priyank Kharge argued that neither BSY’s political influence nor his community affiliation should be a deterrent.Many within the party, including DKS, cautioned that pursuing the case against BSY could backfire if he were acquitted, which seemed likely given the nature of the case. Torn between DKS, Priyank, and his own concerns, Siddaramaiah requested a report from the police department. We have been told that the police report dissuaded Siddaramaiah as it basically hinted that the woman had mental health issues and had filed many other police complaints (against others).Although some human rights activists and lawyers have expressed suspicions about the circumstances surrounding the woman’s death, the government and police are now unlikely to investigate further. IPL ticket scam hits copsDuring the IPL final in Chennai, while Sunrisers Hyderabad were battling Kolkata Knight Riders, the Chennai police were fighting their own battle. Top police officials revealed that they were inundated with requests for tickets and were forced to make special arrangements. The police blame the IPL management for creating an artificial demand by selling only a limited number of tickets over the counter while distributing the majority to corporate entities and others. Many of these tickets end up being sold on the black market. Zero HourA political story of public importanceA Tamilian in Kalinga: Why state pride is at the centre of Odisha’s election .How a Tamil bureacrat-turned-politician became Odisha’s most powerful man. PowermovesTop 5 political stories1. Adani suspected of fraud by selling low-grade coal as high-value to Tangedco 2. “Women are going to be more scared now” – why activists say HD Revanna should have been denied bail3. The story behind INC Kerala’s newly built social media game4. Villupuram custodial torture case: Glaring inconsistencies in police version5. Telangana phone tapping row: What ex-DCP confessed in court about KCR and surveillance