Former Tamil Nadu President of the BJP, K Annamalai, on Friday (5th June) announced that he will launch a political movement in the state and will contest in the next assembly elections. The former IPS officer announced the decision through a video message posted on X.
An Important Announcement https://t.co/IcEnfaZGRK
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) June 5, 2026
“Today, we are going to start a movement. Our political party will contest in the next assembly election in Tamil Nadu,” Annamalai said.
Annamalai also relaunched his website, We The Leaders, and posted a link to the site on X. He said, “Let’s step up, take action, and be the change. Join here to begin our political movement!”
After resigning from the BJP, K Annamalai says, "Today, we are going to start a movement. Our political party will contest in the next assembly election in Tamil Nadu." pic.twitter.com/RtWoJQ5LUQ
— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2026
Speaking about his resignation from the BJP, Annamalai said that he had informed the party back in December 2025 that he wanted to resign. However, the party leadership asked him to wait till the assembly elections in Tamil Nadu were over.
His resignation was accepted by the BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Friday after discussions with senior leaders in New Delhi. Earlier this week, Annamalai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President Nitin Nabin, and the party’s National General Secretary (Organisation) B.L. Santhosh. Describing his six years with the BJP as a valuable learning experience, Annamalai thanked the party for the opportunities it provided him. In his resignation letter, Annamalai cited a difference of opinion with the top party leadership regarding Tamil Nadu as the reason for his resignation.
After resigning from the BJP, K Annamalai says, "It was a great conflict whether I am a BJP person or a Tamilian. I told the party on 4 December 2025 that I am going to resign. The party asked me to finish the elections and then go." pic.twitter.com/CTaku5c6Xz
— ANI (@ANI) June 5, 2026
“At this point, I would recall the multiple conversations with the top leadership and the disagreements I have expressed over the last 18 months. I do not want to burden the top leadership any further with my ongoing thoughts on the way forward for a growth-oriented and culturally rooted politics in Tamil Nadu. After my conversations with our senior leadership, I have come to the conclusion that our views don’t align regarding Tamil Nadu,” Annamalai stated in his resignation letter.
Explaining his political movement, Annamalai said it will be based on the idea that Tamil and Indian identities can exist together and that there is no conflict between the two. He cited the example of former President of India, APJ Abdul Kalam, to drive home the point that Tamil and national identities can coexist. “APJ Abdul Kalam is very important to us. His ideology is important to us. He was a proud Tamil with a national identity,” he said. He criticised personality cults and dynastic politics and said that leadership positions should not become permanent.
Annamalai said that his political movement would follow clean, honest and efficient politics and would work to protect Tamil Nadu’s interests. He said that the movement would encourage all kinds of people, especially technocrats, to enter public life and contribute to governance.
