Is BJP's Annamalai launching a new party? Cryptic posters suggest so
Amid open policy rifts with Centre and absences from BJP events, speculation is growing that Annamalai may quit BJP for his own new party, directly taking on Vijay
Weeks after C Joseph Vijay’s historic election win and ascent to the Chief Minister's post, Tamil Nadu’s political drama is far from over. Speculation is running high that former Tamil Nadu BJP unit K Annamalai may quit the party and float a new outfit.
Fuelling the frenzy are Annamalai’s supporters, who are already floating potential party names and flag designs on X (formerly Twitter), with some claiming an official announcement could drop as early as today. Posters featuring Annamalai's face, alongside the quote, "Fearless minds have no limits", have surfaced across Coimbatore.
According to his supporters, his fan welfare organisation Annamalai Anbu Koottam has actively begun recruiting new members and appointing office-bearers. Some suggest he may not straight away launch a new political party; rather, he could start a social welfare organisation that could lead to a new party later on. Vijay had similarly launched the welfare organisation Vijay Makkal Iyakkam (VMI) well ahead of starting the political party Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).
Annamalai, meanwhile, is scheduled to meet BJP President Nitin Nabin in Delhi soon.
The 'signals'
Political observers are pointing to recent 'signs' that Annamalai could be shifting away from the BJP. In a rare break from the party line, he openly slammed CBSE's decision to advance the compulsory three-language policy for Class IX students to the current academic year.
His supporters also noted a telling detail in his social media accounts — they remained uncharacteristically silent on Sunday, bypassing any mention of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s latest Mann Ki Baat broadcast. Annamalai was also absent from two consecutive state central committee meetings.
Watch | Annamalai’s first rebellion against Modi govt? | New party coming?
The developments have triggered speculation that he may be planning to launch a new political party. Interestingly, the posters appeared while the BJP is holding its state central committee meeting in Coimbatore and while Annamalai himself is currently abroad.
The former IPS officer has yet to issue an official reaction to the developments and rumours.
Meanwhile, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram weighed in on social media, tweeting: "One more political party in TN is in the offing, the churn accelerates." He also cryptically hinted at a specific reasoning behind the rumored party's proposed name.
Recent pinpricks
One of the main friction points between Annamalai and the central leadership is over the Union Education Ministry's three-language policy. Last week, Annamalai publicly urged the Centre to withdraw its notification making three languages mandatory for Class IX students from the current academic year, pushing instead to stick to the original 2029-30 timeline.
Watch/Read | Vijay disrupts, Annamalai waits, and Udhay inherits | TN's Young Turks
While Annamalai had previously welcomed an April 2026 mandate applying this rule to Class VI, he argued that forcing high schoolers to pick up a new language at such short notice would heavily pressure them and harm their learning outcomes. He urged the ministry of education to honour its initial 2029-30 timeline.
Poll-time tension
During the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, the grapevine was abuzz with Annamalai's 'unhappiness' over being 'sidelined' by the BJP. He was neither given a ticket nor involved in a big way during the campaign. He reportedly has a strained relationship with many in the party, including state unit chief Nainar Nagendran.
Annamalai had also had rows with the AIADMK over some of his statements, including one criticising former CM Jayalalithaa. Eventually, when the BJP entered an electoral alliance with the AIADMK, Annamalai is said to have been sidelined.