Chennai, Apr 12 (UNI) Ending his nearly four month vow that he would

not wear footwear and would walk barefooted till the ruling DMK was

unseated from power in Tamil Nadu, former BJP State President

K Annamalai wore a new pair of slippers given by party leaders.

After former AIADMK Minister and BJP Legislature Party leader

Nainar Nagendran was formally announced that he was elected

as the 13th President of BJP TN President during the elections

held for National General Council members, Mr Annamalai ended

his bare-foot walk protest in deference to the wishes expressed

by senior leaders.

On an appeal by Mr Nagendran, in his maiden speech as the new

State Party Chief asking him to start wearing footwears and end his

protest as Union Home Minister Amit Shah has laid the foundation

stone yesterday for the victory of NDA while announcing revival of

ties with the AIADMK, Mr Annamalai ended his vow.

Mr Nagendra also said Mr Shah's prophecy that NDA government will

be formed in Tamil Nadu after 2026 Assembly elections would come

true and that Mr Annamalai should start wearing footwears.

Accepting the appeal, he ended the vow by wearing a new pair of slippers

given to him by Mr Nagendran in the presence of senior BJP leaders.

Later, speaking on the occasion, Mr Annamalai said the NDA would definitely

come to power as announced by Mr Shah.

He also said from today he was an ordinary cadre of the BJP.

It may be recalled that in the aftermath of the shocking incident of sexual assault

on a second year engineering girl student in the state-owned iconic Anna University

campus in December 2024, Mr Annamalai accused the ruling DMK for disclosing

the name of the victim and alleged that it was trying to shield the accused as he

belonged to the DMK.

Stating that the DMK should be ashamed for naming the victim in the FIR which got

leaked later and went viral on social media, Mr Annamalai, vowed not to wear footwear

till the DMK government was ousted, announced a 48-day ‘Viratham’ (fasting) by

worshipping Lord Muruga, offering prayers at all the ‘Aarupadai’ temples (six abodes)

in the state by February, 2025, besides holding an unique self-flagellation protest by

whip lashing himself in front of his residence at Coimbatrore in December last year.

And, today he ended his vow following an appeal by Mr Nagendran, soon after taking

over the mantle from him, by wearing a pair of slippers given by him.

UNI GV 1925