Tamil Nadu will witness a change in 2031 similar to 2026, says Annamalai

Chief Mentor ‘We The Leaders’ K. Annamalai at the Drug Free Tamil Nadu Conference at Achipatti near Pollachi in Coimbatore district on Sunday. | Photo credit: S. SIVA SARAVANAN

Tamil Nadu will witness a change in 2031 similar to that seen in 2026, “We The Leaders” Chief Mentor K. Annamalai said on Sunday (July 12), asserting that the transformation will be led by the organisation’s largely young membership.

Addressing the ‘Drug-Free Tamil Nadu’ conference organized by We The Leaders at Achipatti near Pollachi in Coimbatore, Mr. Annamalai said the organization was not driven by an obsession with political power but by a commitment to social transformation and would promote “healthy and ethical politics” while working to build a developed Tamil Nadu.

He said the organization would be guided by the principles of true social justice, stable economic growth, agricultural development and promotion of Tamil identity.

Claiming that We The Leaders was not a family outfit, Mr. Annamalai said that he too was only a volunteer within the organization. He added that the organization is not working against any political party or the ruling government under the leadership of TVK.

Stating that the TVK-led government had secured the people’s mandate in the 2026 assembly elections and that many ministers were first-time office bearers, he said, “We should support the government when it stumbles. We are not here for the obsession of political power. We are here to build a developed Tamil Nadu.”

He said We The Leaders will not resort to indiscriminate criticism of the government or individuals. “Our motto is not to ask what the government should do for us, but what we should do to change society,” he said.

Mr. Annamalai said the organization had registered more than 19 thousand members within 38 days of its announcement and had already crossed nearly 50% of its target. “We are not forcing anyone to join. We are confident that we will reach 50,000 members, after which the organization can establish itself as a political party for social good,” he said.

Outlining the organisation’s plan, Mr Annamalai said August would be observed as ‘Environment Month’ and September as ‘Women Safety Month’ with volunteers engaged in year-round awareness campaigns and community service activities.

He described it as a youth-led organisation, stating that 83% of its members were male and 17% female, and 54% were under 39 years of age. Of these, 14% belonged to the 18-25 age group. “We are a young organization. There will definitely be a change by 2031 because of this young population,” he said.

Mr Annamalai said the organization would continue to observe July as drug awareness month every year as the fight against substance abuse is a “process, not an event”. Claiming that substance abuse was a contributing factor in several crimes against women and children and many road accidents, he said law enforcement agencies alone could not eradicate the menace. “The police can arrest drug dealers, but they cannot arrest everyone who intends to buy drugs. Society itself must change,” he said.

In contrast to the previous DMK regime, he claimed that political rivals have faced restrictions in the past and cited an example where electricity supply to a private college was allegedly cut off for a week after he addressed a program there.

Referring to what he described as the Tamil Nadu government’s decision to freeze around 3,000 acres of temple land in Karur, Mr. Annamalai said he opposed the move and supported efforts to protect temple property. He claimed that his stance led to him being labeled as “anti-Hindu”. “I am a Hindu. But when I step out of my home, I come out as a common citizen who believes in equality,” he said.

Mr. Annamalai also announced that the organization will establish the APJ Abdul Kalam Center of Excellence on October 15, 2026. On state finances, he claimed that the TVK-led government would borrow nearly ₹80,000 crore every year, taking Tamil Nadu’s outstanding debt to ₹14 crore₹₹500 crore, $150 crore. “For the current government, there is no other alternative than borrowing. We will change that once we come to power,” he said.

Responding to questions about his decision to quit the BJP, Mr. Annamalai said he had opted for a broader social mission. He said he remained a nationalist and was proud of it, adding that his aim was to make Tamil Nadu the leading state of the country. He also rejected allegations that the organization was the BJP’s “B-team”.

We the leaders will strive to end personality driven politics and create opportunities for dedicated local workers to become future ministers and MLAs, he said.

Published – 12 Jul 2026 21:43 IST