Chennai: Former BJP Tamil Nadu state president K Annamalai formally submitted his resignation to party national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday, accompanied by a detailed report explaining the reasons behind the party's poor performance in the recent assembly elections. Neither Annamalai nor the party issued an official statement regarding the resignation.
Later in the day, Annamalai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah and elaborated on the factors that led to his decision. BJP sources indicated that Annamalai has been asked to remain in the national capital for further discussions. Simultaneously, the party high command summoned state president Nainar Nagenthran to Delhi; he departed from Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday evening.
BJP sources in Delhi expressed confidence that Annamalai might have reconsidered his resignation following his meetings with Shah and Nabin. A BJP leader stated, "He is not quitting." However, sources close to Annamalai maintained that his decision to step down remains unchanged.
According to party sources, Annamalai's letter thanked the central leadership for appointing him as state president for nearly four years. In the attached report, he alleged that he was "sidelined" within the party. He attributed the decline in BJP's vote share from 11% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections to 3% in the recent assembly polls to strategic errors, including the alliance with AIADMK. The report highlighted that the party's assembly representation dropped from four seats in 2021 to just one now.
Sources close to the former IPS officer revealed that he had decided months ago to exit the BJP and launch a new political outfit with a regional focus. "He is now putting his plans into action. Being part of a national party limits his growth. There could be an exodus of second-rung leaders and cadres from BJP once he forms the party," said a Tamil Nadu BJP functionary familiar with the matter.
On Monday, Annamalai had stated that he would disclose his next course of action "in two days."
