Annamalai Quits BJP; Nitin Nabin Accepts Resignation

New Delhi (IANS): BJP National President Nitin Nabin on Friday accepted the resignation of former Tamil Nadu BJP state president K. Annamalai from the party’s primary membership.

Arun Singh, the party’s National General Secretary and Headquarters In-charge, confirmed the development in a press release.

“The National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Hon’ble Shri Nitin Nabin, has accepted the resignation that Annamalai submitted from the primary membership of the Party,” the press release stated.

Amid intense speculation over his political future and reports suggesting he may launch a people’s movement that could eventually evolve into a political party, Annamalai announced he will address his supporters through social media on Friday afternoon.

In a post on X on Thursday, Annamalai said, “Tomorrow at around 12 noon, I look forward to meeting all of you through social media, sharing my thoughts, and having an open-hearted conversation.”

His announcement has further fuelled expectations that the former IPS officer may finally reveal his next political move after several days of speculation about his departure from the BJP.

Annamalai’s Rapid Rise

Annamalai, a former Karnataka cadre IPS officer, resigned from the Indian Police Service in 2019 to enter politics. Inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, he joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in 2020 and quickly rose through the ranks. Within a year, the party appointed him Tamil Nadu BJP president, making him one of the youngest state chiefs in the party and a prominent face of its expansion efforts in the state.

Future Plans: A New Movement?

Sources close to Annamalai told NDTV that he is working on plans to launch a people’s movement to identify, train, and groom young leaders across Tamil Nadu. According to these sources, he could eventually transform the initiative into a political party. He already runs a non-profit organisation called “We the Leaders,” which he expects to serve as the base for this proposed movement.

Growing Rift with the Party

The speculation follows reports of growing differences over the BJP’s political strategy in Tamil Nadu. Sources indicate that tensions began after the BJP renewed its alliance with the AIADMK and replaced Annamalai as state president. Annamalai reportedly favoured an independent political strategy for the BJP in the state rather than rejoining the AIADMK-led alliance.

Sources further claim that he felt increasingly sidelined ahead of the recent Assembly elections and felt disappointed when the party did not assign him a national role, despite expectations of an elevation. Reports also indicate that he declined the party’s offer of a Rajya Sabha seat.