Eyes Tamil Nadu Assembly polls
CHENNAI: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Friday formally severed ties with the Bharatiya Janata Party and unveiled a new youth-oriented movement, signalling the start of an independent political journey that he said would culminate in contesting future Assembly elections in the state.
The announcement marks a significant development in Tamil Nadu politics, coming months after Annamalai stepped away from key party responsibilities amid differences over the BJP’s electoral strategy in the state. His new platform, named ‘We the Leaders’, is expected to be expanded into a political party and field candidates in the next Assembly elections.
In a video message, the former IPS officer said he had entered public life with the goal of bringing meaningful change to Tamil Nadu and improving people’s lives. According to him, the new movement represents a continuation of that mission through a different route.
Annamalai disclosed that he had informed the BJP leadership about his decision to leave the party as early as December 2025. He said senior leaders had then requested him to stay on until the Tamil Nadu election process was completed, following which he proceeded with his decision after consultations with the party leadership.
While expressing admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Annamalai acknowledged that he had differed with the BJP on several issues over the last one-and-a-half years. He reiterated his belief that the party should have contested the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections independently, a position that contrasted with the BJP’s alliance approach involving the AIADMK.
“I did not want to become a problem for the party,” Annamalai said, explaining the reason behind his departure.
Launching ‘We the Leaders’, Annamalai described his political journey as a “solo battle” and said he was attempting to create a fresh political alternative rooted in the aspirations and identity of Tamil Nadu.
He said the movement would seek to walk alongside ordinary people and pursue politics centred on public welfare. According to him, national parties often struggle to fully understand the expectations and sentiments of the people of Tamil Nadu.
Annamalai also took aim at the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) and what he described as personality-driven politics in the state. He argued that politics should not revolve around individual families and asserted that there was no place for cult or dynasty politics in a healthy democracy.
The former BJP leader said he intended to build a people-centric political platform rather than one dependent on individual personalities.
He further claimed that several prominent figures, including superstar Rajinikanth, had encouraged him to join them politically, but he had chosen to pursue an independent path.
His resignation was formally accepted on Friday by BJP national president Nitin Nabin, bringing an end to his association with the party that began in 2020.
Speculation about Annamalai’s future had intensified in recent weeks after he distanced himself from party positions ahead of the Tamil Nadu elections. Despite stepping down from organisational responsibilities, he continued campaigning for the BJP during the Assembly polls.
A former Karnataka cadre IPS officer, Annamalai resigned from the Indian Police Service in 2019 before entering politics. After joining the BJP in 2020, the former IPS officer was appointed state president within a year and went on to become the party’s most recognisable face in the state.
Agencies