In a swift wave of exits that has shaken the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tamil Nadu unit on Friday, several party leaders have resigned from the party after the exit of former state president K Annamalai. Some of them have announced joining the newly launched political movement of Annamalai.
The most prominent among them is Tamil Nadu BJP vice-president Karu Nagarajan, who resigned from the party and formally joined K Annamalai’s political movement in Chennai today. Nagarajan said, “We are following a talented leader. A leader who supports the people.”’
Similarly, BJP’s state secretary Sumathi Venkatesh has also resigned from the party. In her resignation letter to party president, she wrote that the decision came after careful thought.
This is my humble intimation to all 👃👃👃 pic.twitter.com/mHpAtDHNml
— Sumathi Venkatesh (மோடியின் குடும்பம்) (@SumathiVenkat18) June 5, 2026
“It has been a matter of great pride and privilege to serve the party. I remain deeply inspired by the leadership of the Hon’ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji and the ideals of nationalism, patriotism and service to the nation that the BJP upholds. These values have guided me throughout my journey and will continue to do so,” she wrote. However, Sumathi Venkatesh didn’t directly indicate that she is joining Annamalai.
Karu Nagarajan and Sumathi Venkatesh are not alone. As per reports, as many as fourteen other BJP leaders have also resigned from the party following Annamalai’s exit. These resignations mark an immediate show of support for Annamalai.
The resignations came just hours after Annamalai formally ended his association with the BJP and announced the launch of a new political platform, saying his larger political vision for Tamil Nadu could no longer be pursued within the party structure.
K Annamalai, a former IPS officer who rose to prominence as the face of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, had submitted his resignation letter earlier and announced the launch of a new political movement on Friday. He cited differences of opinion with the party leadership that he had been expressing for the past 18 months.
The former state president has indicated that the movement with an inclusive agenda will eventually contest the next Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.
