Annamalai quitting no loss for party: TN BJP chief Nagenthran
On Annamalai's decision to launch his own political party, Nagenthran said everyone was free to start a political party in a democracy
Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran on Friday (June 5) said K Annamalai's quitting will not be a loss to the party.
Earlier in the day, Annamalai, who quit the BJP, said his goals are bigger and that he would launch a new political party with an inclusive agenda and fight the next polls in Tamil Nadu.
What Nagenthran said
"There will be no loss to the BJP due to his (Annamalai's) resignation. There won't be any setback to the BJP, which is the biggest party in the world. The party will remain steadfast on its ideology," Nagenthran told reporters in Chennai.
Also read: Annamalai's new political movement: 'He cannot match Vijay's appeal'
On Annamalai's decision to launch his own political party, Nagenthran said everyone was free to start a political party in a democracy.
The allegation that importance was not being given to the state was incorrect, as whenever Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited any country, he spoke about Tamil Nadu, its heritage and greatness, the BJP president said.
Durai, Karti react
Meanwhile, MDMK leader Durai Vaiko hailed Annamalai's decision to quit the BJP and launch his own party.
Also read: ‘Will eliminate cult politics’: K Annamalai announces launch of new party
"I wish my brother Annamalai all success and hope that he goes by the Dravidian ideology," Durai told reporters.
Senior Congress leader Karti Chidambaram told PTI that Annamalai’s exit from the saffron party was a "natural culmination of events", asserting that the BJP has always had "very limited purchase" and acceptance in the state.
The Congress MP also described it as a "ballsy and bold move".
Karti highlighted that Annamalai, a former civil servant and police officer, did not come from an ideological background rooted in the RSS or the Sangh Parivar.
"He was looking around for various political parties... and then he decided to join the BJP. His experiment with the BJP has come to a natural end because he has come to the conclusion, which we all knew from the beginning, that the BJP does not understand Tamil Nadu culturally and politically," he said.
‘Conventional politics go through a churn’
When asked if there is a viable scope for a new political party in the state, Karti acknowledged that while certain segments remain unrepresented or underrepresented, the political landscape is highly competitive.
"Conventional politics is going through a churn all over the world, and it will also go through a churn in Tamil Nadu," the Congress leader remarked, adding that it remains to be seen whether Annamalai will form an alliance or contest solo like NTK leader Seeman.
Karti also said that while the BJP's ground footprint cannot shrink much further, Annamalai's departure will heavily diminish the outsized media attention the party previously enjoyed in Tamil Nadu.