Annamalai Resigns as BJP Tamil Nadu Chief, Cites 'Sidelining' and Poor Alliance

CHENNAI: Former BJP Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai on Tuesday submitted his resignation to party national president Nitin Nabin, along with a report outlining the reasons behind the party’s rout in the recent assembly polls. There was, however, no statement from Annamalai or the party.

Hours later, Annamalai met Union home minister Amit Shah and explained the reasons for his decision. BJP sources said he has been asked to stay back in the national capital, even as the party high command called state president Nainar Nagenthran to Delhi. Nainar took a flight to Delhi from Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening.

BJP sources in Delhi said the party was confident that Annamalai has changed his mind following his meetings with Shah and Nabin. “He is not quitting,” said a BJP leader. Sources close to Annamalai, however, said there was no change in his decision to quit.

Party sources said Annamalai, in the letter, thanked the central leadership for appointing him as the state president for close to four years. In the attached report, he said he was “sidelined” in the party, the source said. Annamalai pointed out the plunge in BJP’s vote share from 11% in the 2024 Lok Sabha polls to 3% in the recent assembly election to wrong decisions including the alliance with AIADMK. The party’s strength in the assembly has come down from four in 2021 to just one now, the report said.

Sources close to the former IPS officer said he decided months ago to quit the party and launch a new political outfit rooted in regional aspirations. “He is now putting his plans into action. Being part of a national party limits his growth. There could be an exodus of second-rung leaders and cadres from BJP once he forms the party,” said a TN BJP functionary close to Annamalai.

Annamalai had on Monday said he would convey his next plan of action “in two days”.