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Sources said Annamalai is considering quitting the BJP and starting a new party. An official announcement is expected on June 3.
Former Tamil Nadu BJP leader K Annamalai (PTI Image)
Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai is reportedly weighing the possibility of leaving the party and launching a new political outfit, signalling a major political shake-up in the state, according to sources close to the BJP leader.
Sources said Annamalai is considering quitting the BJP and starting a new party. An official announcement is expected on June 3, when he is expected to hold a press conference.
This marks a crucial week as far as Annamalai’s next move is concerned. Annamalai was replaced as Tamil Nadu BJP chief by Nainar Nagendran, but the party fared poorly in the recent state assembly elections, winning only one seat.
Annamalai Dissatisfied With BJP?
Rumours over Annamalai’s possible exit from the BJP had surfaced with several of his supporters floating party names and flag designs on social media handles.
The speculation was also fuelled by Annamalai’s public criticism of the Central Board of Secondary Education’s (CBSE) three-language formula for Class 9 students, saying it would create “unnecessary mental stress” for children and their parents.
Annamalai was also reportedly unhappy with the BJP’s decision to revive its alliance with the AIADMK for the recent assembly elections, although he eventually toed the party line and campaigned extensively for the NDA. He has also been a vocal critic of the Vijay-led TVK government in Tamil Nadu.
BJP Downplays Rumours
Meanwhile, a senior BJP leader in Tamil Nadu downplayed rumours over Annamalai’s possible exit. “We have no information that he is leaving the BJP or planning to launch a new party,” he was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
There is also speculation that Annamalai could be given a national role. A former IPS officer, Annamalai led the Tamil Nadu BJP from 2021 to 2025, replacing L Murugan in the role.
However, his aggressive media presence and controversial remarks on CN Annadurai and J Jayalalithaa alienated the AIADMK, causing a breakdown in the alliance and a massive setback for both parties in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami reportedly asked for the BJP for a leadership change as a condition for a renewed alliance.
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