India, April 4 -- Amid speculation over K Annamalai's absence from the Bharatiya Janata Party candidate list for the upcoming Tamil Nadu assembly elections, he on Saturday made it clear that the decision was his own.

Speaking to reporters at Chennai airport, the former state BJP chief said he "wasn't denied a ticket, but he chose not to contest," reported news agency ANI.

He said he had already informed the party leadership in writing of his decision to stay out of the electoral fray and to campaign for the National Democratic Alliance (NDA). Thanking the leadership, he said he was "grateful" that his choice had been respected.

The clarification came a day after the BJP released its first list of 27 candidates. Annamalai - widely seen ...