Chennai: The statement made by the newly appointed Tamil Nadu BJP chief, K Annamalai that he would work to bring media under control within six months has courted controversy. He made this comment during a roadshow from Coimbatore to Chennai before taking oath as party president.
Addressing the party workers, he said that no worries would befall the party because of the media lying, and the 'false news' promising that the media could be under their control within six months. Referring to the previous BJP chief L Murugan's new portfolio at the Centre as the minister for Information and Broadcasting, Annamalai said that all media will now come under him.
Annamalai is expected to take oath on July 16 at the party headquarters in Chennai. Before his oath-taking, he is travelling via Trichy, Perambalur, Villupuram, Tindivanam, Madhuranthagam, Chengalpattu, Guduvancheri, Tambaram, Pallavaram, Alandur, Saidapet to reach Kamalayalam as a show of strength.
The crowd-pulling events at many places were reported to have violated the COVID protocols that are in effect in the state till July 19 despite Annamalai's maintaining that his roadshow is being held with the strict following of the COVID guidelines. The state has extended the lockdown till July 19 and has banned several activities including cultural and political events. Gathering hundreds of people to welcome Annamalai in many places is visibly a violation of this.
Annamalai's elevation from vice president of the Tamil Nadu BJP unit happened in less than a year since then, and a day after the previous BJP chief L Murugan was included in the Union Cabinet as a Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying.