Chennai: Former Bharatiya Janata Social gathering chief in Tamil Nadu Okay. Annamalai on Friday resigned as a key member of the occasion and introduced the launch of a brand new political motion known as ‘We The Leaders’, which he stated he would evolve to contest the following parliamentary elections. After leaving the occasion, Annamalai addressed the nation on social media, describing the transfer as a “new starting” and stressing that he wished to go away the occasion with respect.
Earlier, Bharatiya Janata Social gathering nationwide president Nitin Navin formally accepted his resignation following consultations with senior leaders in New Delhi. “Nationwide President of the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering, Shri Nitin Navin, has accepted the resignation from the senior membership of the occasion submitted by former Tamil Nadu President Shri Okay. Annamalai,” Arun Singh, Nationwide Basic Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering, stated in a press release.
Annamalai visited Delhi earlier this week and held talks with House Minister Amit Shah, Bharatiya Janata Social gathering president Nitin Navin and occasion’s nationwide normal secretary (organisation) BL Santosh. The assembly was reportedly not solely a proper recognition of the withdrawal but in addition a courtesy name on the alternatives the occasion has prolonged to Annamalai over the previous six years.
In a video deal with, Annamalai expressed his imaginative and prescient of constructing a “new type of governance” that initially drew him into politics.
Reflecting on his political journey, he stated he began with actor and filmmaker Vijayakanth’s Desiya Mulpokku Dravida Kazhagam earlier than becoming a member of the BJP. He stated his time with the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering was like an “internship” after 17 years of efforts to enhance politics and governance.
Annamalai additionally revealed that famous person Rajinikanth had consulted him about his political plans earlier than becoming a member of the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering. Annamalai apologized to Rajinikanth with nice respect, saying he selected to respect his contribution to the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering on the time.
Reflecting on his dedication to Tamil Nadu, Annamalai stated that in the course of the previous six years within the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering, he by no means gave up on the nation and persistently fought for the welfare, tradition and other people of Tamil Nadu.
He emphasised the occasion’s impartial place within the elections and its help on points reminiscent of hydrocarbon and oil exploration tasks and the Mekedatu dam. In response to a query about his id, he stated, “I’m all the time requested if I’m a Tamilian or an Indian. And whereas being a standard Tamilian, I’m additionally a proud Indian (sic).”
In his earlier resignation letter, Annamalai had cited “variations of opinion” with the occasion management over the state’s political technique as the rationale.
The identify Annamalai selected for his new folks’s motion, We the Leaders, displays the identify of the nonprofit group he based in 2020, We the Leaders Basis. He outlined the grassroots plan, together with cadre coaching and implementation of floor actions.
“We have to use this as a springboard to start out working on the grassroots stage, from cadre improvement to on-the-ground motion. This will probably be a dynamic folks’s motion with new concepts and ideologies,” he stated. He added that the motion can even practice and educate frequent folks to change into political leaders, moreover establishing a ‘Political and Ethics Heart’ in Coimbatore.
Annamalai defined that the initiative will quickly take the type of a political occasion that may contest the following Meeting elections in Tamil Nadu. He goals to place himself as a substitute voice centered on governance, ethics, and grassroots empowerment.
Annamalai, a former Indian police officer who labored in Karnataka, left the police drive in 2019 to run a non-governmental group known as We the Leaders Basis, citing its alignment with nationalist and meritocratic politics, and joined the BJP in 2020.
He was appointed because the president of the Tamil Nadu state BJP in 2021. Aggressive campaigning in opposition to the then Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam authorities and in depth help packages such because the ‘En Mann, En Makkal’ yatra considerably elevated the occasion’s profile within the state, though its electoral success was restricted. Annamalai based the predominantly Tamil Bharatiya Janata Social gathering, attacking the ruling authorities on governance and corruption and demanding political reforms, whereas asserting a Tamil id.
The principle motive for Annamalai’s determination seems to be robust dissatisfaction with the BJP’s alliance technique and seat-sharing preparations within the current Tamil Nadu meeting elections. He was significantly upset in regards to the occasion’s alliance with the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) and the restricted variety of seats allotted to the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering.
“Mr. Annamalai opposed the alliance with AIADMK and recommended that the BJP ought to construct an impartial organizational drive and contest extra seats beneath its personal image. He had additionally expressed dissatisfaction over the restricted variety of seats allotted to the BJP by the AIADMK,” a Tamil Nadu BJP lawmaker stated.
Forward of the 2026 meeting polls, Annamalai had formally resigned as election chief of six constituencies in February, citing his father’s well being situation. He had resigned because the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering president in April 2025 to foster ties with the AIADMK after he had a spat with AIADMK chief Edappadi Palaniswami over Annamalai’s feedback in opposition to former state chief minister J. Jayalalithaa.
The NDA’s poor efficiency within the 2026 elections is alleged to have strengthened Annamalai’s perception that the BJP’s present technique within the state will not be yielding outcomes or strengthening its place within the state.
The BJP’s energy within the Tamil Nadu Meeting has diminished from 4 MLAs earlier to only one MLA after the 2026 meeting polls.
(Edited by Naldeep Singh Dahiya)
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