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The developments come at a time when Annamalai intends to launch a people’s movement aimed at building a direct connection with young voters, particularly Gen Z
K Annamalai has submitted his resignation and seeks an ‘amicable exit’ from BJP. (X)
As speculation swirls around K Annamalai’s political future following his likely exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), attention is now shifting to a key question in Tamil Nadu’s political circles: will the former IPS officer test his strength in the state bypolls?
The question has gained traction amid a rapidly changing political landscape in the state. Five assembly seats are currently vacant, creating the possibility of by-elections in the coming months. Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay vacated the Trichy East seat after choosing to retain Perambur following the 2026 assembly elections in which his TVK swept the state. In addition, four AIADMK MLAs resigned from the assembly last month before joining Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Sources told CNN-News18 that the number of vacancies could rise further. A few more legislators are said to be considering resigning from their seats and switching sides, potentially expanding the scope of any future bypoll exercise.
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The developments come at a time when Annamalai is positioning himself for what sources close to him describe as a larger political project. Those familiar with his plans say the former BJP leader intends to launch a people’s movement later this year aimed at building a direct connect with young voters, particularly Gen Z. The movement is expected to serve as a precursor to a political party that Annamalai is believed to be planning to float in the months ahead.
While no formal announcement has been made, Annamalai himself has repeatedly hinted that a major political initiative is in the works. Speaking to reporters recently amid intense speculation over his future, he asked supporters to “wait for two days”, a remark that further fuelled expectations of a new political chapter.
The timing is significant. Annamalai’s political messaging in recent months has increasingly suggested that he sees an opening beyond both the BJP and the traditional Dravidian establishment. He has repeatedly argued that Tamil Nadu’s decades-old Dravidian political model is running out of steam and that voters, especially younger generations, are looking for a new alternative.
Sources close to Annamalai had told CNN-News18 on Monday that the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief believes the state’s political landscape has undergone a fundamental shift following the emergence of Vijay as a major political force. “There is no leader to fight Vijay today. The Dravidian era is over. Politics centred on language issues alone will no longer work. The politics of the state has changed,” a source aware of the discussions said.
Political observers say the praise may reflect Annamalai’s recognition of Vijay’s growing appeal among first-time voters. But it has also led to a larger question: is Annamalai trying to position himself as a complementary force to Vijay, or as an eventual alternative?
The challenge before him is substantial. Despite emerging as one of the BJP’s most recognisable faces in the South and significantly expanding the party’s visibility in Tamil Nadu, Annamalai has not won an election. Yet his supporters argue that electoral victories alone do not explain his continued relevance. Since entering politics after a high-profile police career, he has built a strong social media following, cultivated a reputation as an anti-establishment campaigner and become one of the state’s most recognisable political figures.
A bypoll contest, if it happens, could therefore become more than just a local election. It could offer Annamalai an opportunity to test whether his personal popularity can translate into votes outside the BJP framework and whether there is space for a political force positioned between the Dravidian majors and Vijay’s rapidly expanding TVK.
About the Author
Poornima Murali, Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, has reported for over a decade on civic and political issues in Tamil Nadu. She has been helming the Chennai bureau for the channel for yea…Read More
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