Chennai: BJP has postponed the release of party’s candidate list for the upcoming assembly elections. Union minister and TN poll in-charge Piyush Goyal, who arrived in Chennai on Tuesday, said the list would be released within two days.With just three more working days left for filing nominations, the party was yet to finalise the candidates. Last ditch efforts to swap a few seats with AIADMK to get segments considered favourable for BJP was also the reson for deferring the annuncement of candidates, said partymen. There was expectation that Goyal would announce the candidates once he reached Chennai. Former state president K Annamalai who was campaigning in Puducherry rushed to Chennai on a chopper after being summoned for a meeting to party headquarters in Chennai, raising anticipation that his name was also in the candidate list. However, the party high command was yet to finalise the names.“While DMK, AIADMK and even TVK have released candidate lists and begun campaigns, we still do not know who will contest where. With limited time left, canvassing will be affected,” said a senior state leader who attended the meeting. When asked about the delay, BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran said candidates are likely to file their official nominations on April 4.Meanwhile, Goyal released a “chargesheet” against the DMK govt, alleging an increase in crimes against women, children, dalits, hindus, youth and farmers.Citing data, he said POCSO cases rose from 4,968 in 2022 to 6,969 in 2024 and alleged involvement of DMK functionaries in sexual offences, while questioning the govt’s response.He also referred to alleged corruption, citing a Rs 4,700-crore illegal sand mining case, TASMAC-related issues and cash-for-job cases in the municipal administration department, and said action would be taken if a new govt is formed.Earlier, at the airport, Goyal said TVK president Vijay’s fan base would not translate into votes and that the party would not cross three or four seats in the 2026 elections.
