Will Tamil Nadu BJP chief get second innings?

This election, being held ahead of the Assembly election next year, will also see the election of the party chief or perhaps a second innings to the incumbent who stepped into the shoes of senior leader Pon Radhakrishnan since his elevation as Union minister in 2014.

Despite the delay owing to the massive membership enrollment drive and also the northeast monsoon, the BJP high command has mandated to complete the entire process of election by December 10.

Originally it has been planned to be held on November 23. And as the party transits to poll mode after hectically involving in the relief activities for the flood-affected families, talks that the central leadership might adopt the Assam strategy in Tamil Nadu is doing the rounds.

As fallout of the Bihar election debacle, the BJP changed its strategy and appointed Sarbananda Sonowal, union minister of state for sports and youth welfare, as the new state BJP president of Assam, which is going to polls next year.

“Union minister of state for road transport, highways and shipping Pon Radhakrishnan may be made the state chief again to steer the party to victory in the 2016 elections,” a senior leader said.

The major concern of the party is the NDA’s chief ministerial candidate. “The dynamics may change depending upon who the high command nominates as the CM candidate,” another leader said. Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan was made the party president in 2014 midway of a three-year term of office held by Mr Radhakrishnan. The latter was elected party chief for the second consecutive term in 2012. Grapewine has it that the party high command may ensure a term for Dr Tamilisai.

The party members would elect about 43 district presidents who will elect a new president for the party.