Chennai : Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai resigned from the party on Friday, ending days of intense speculation over his exit amid growing buzz that he could launch a new political outfit. According to party sources, senior leaders remained hopeful until the last moment that the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief could be convinced to stay.
On Tuesday, Annamalai held a series of meetings in New Delhi with Nitin Nabin, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and BJP national general secretary (organisation) BL Santhosh. Sources said Annamalai briefed the party leadership on the political situation in Tamil Nadu and outlined the reasons behind his decision to step away from the party.
Annamalai’s departure is being viewed within the BJP as a major setback to the party’s ambitions in Tamil Nadu. During his tenure, the former IPS officer emerged as one of the BJP’s most prominent faces in the state, helping energise the cadre and expand the party’s visibility in the southern state. His aggressive campaigning style, attacks on political rivals and extensive grassroots outreach were widely seen as key factors in positioning the BJP as a more assertive force.
Despite the surge in vote share, the BJP failed to open its account in Tamil Nadu, with Annamalai himself losing the high-profile Coimbatore contest. In April 2025, he was replaced as the Tamil Nadu BJP president by Nainar Nagendran, a move widely interpreted as an effort to rebuild the party’s relationship with AIADMK chief Edappadi K Palaniswami.
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