‘Will eliminate cult politics’: K Annamalai announces launch of new party
Hours after the BJP accepted his resignation, K Annamalai announced a new political party and said it would contest the next Tamil Nadu Assembly election
Ending speculation over his political future, K Annamalai on Friday (June 5) unveiled plans to launch a new party, just hours after the BJP formally accepted his resignation. He announced this at a press conference later in the day.
"Today, we are going to start a movement. Our political party will contest in the next assembly election in Tamil Nadu," said Annamalai as quoted by ANI.
Alternative political platform
He proposed a political movement aimed at doing away with "cult politics" and providing an alternative model of leadership in the state.
"It was a great conflict whether I am a BJP person or a Tamilian. I told the party on 4 December 2025 that I am going to resign. The party asked me to finish the elections and then go," he added.
Also Read: If Annamalai parts ways with BJP, whose loss is it?
Elaborating further on the reason behind his resignation, the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief said that there was a difference of views on the state between him and the BJP leadership.
He said that he held several rounds of discussion with the top BJP leadership in the last 18 months to resolve the differences.
Differences with BJP leadership
However, Annamalai said despite leaving the BJP, he still holds Prime Minister Narendra Modi in high regard, adding that he was thankful to the party leadership for their trust in him and the opportunities they have provided to him.
Also Read: TN BJP chief denies Annamalai’s resignation and new party move
“The National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Hon'ble Shri Nitin Nabin, has accepted the resignation submitted by the Tamil Nadu Ex. State President, Shri K. Annamalai from the primary membership of the Party,” the BJP said in a statement earlier in the day.
The 41-year-old leader travelled to Delhi earlier this week, met BJP president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday and stated that he wanted to part ways with the party on “cordial terms”. This was followed by meetings with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh.
Resignation accepted
The resignation comes despite attempts by sections of the party leadership to persuade Annamalai to stay. According to BJP sources, senior leaders had continued to hope that the former state president could be convinced to reconsider his decision.
A former IPS officer, Annamalai emerged as one of the BJP’s most recognisable faces in Tamil Nadu after joining the party and later taking charge of its state unit. In recent days, however, intense speculation has surrounded his political future, with reports suggesting he could resign and chart an independent course.