Annamalai is showcasing a ‘political movement’ to fight the next general elections in Tamil Nadu
K. Annamalai. Files | Photo credit: M. Periasamy
Former BJP leader K. Annamalai, who quit the national party earlier this week, on Friday (June 5, 2026) announced the launch of a “political movement” that is heavily inspired by the ideals espoused by former president APJ Abdul Kalam. Hours before his announcement, the BJP said its national president Nitin Nabin had accepted Mr. Annamalai’s resignation as a senior member of the party.
Movement to develop sideways
Sharing his vision of a new political movement through social media platformsMr. Annamalai said that it will eventually evolve into a political party at the right time with its functionaries trained at the Dr. Center for Ethics and Politics. APJ Abdul Kalam in Coimbatore. All its functionaries will be trained at the center before contesting any election, he said.
“I didn’t want to be another problem for the BJP”
Mr. Annamalai said there were several “problems” in the BJP that the national leadership had “patiently” pointed out months before his resignation. He did not want to become another topic for the party leadership. Although he had announced his decision to part ways with the BJP on December 4 last year, Mr. Annamalai said he had accepted the party’s request to stay on till the completion of the Tamil Nadu assembly elections in May 2026.
The former IPS officer said he continued to respect BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi but still chose to have the courage to disagree with him on certain issues. He decided to meet BJP leader and Union Minister Amit Shah to convey his decision “face to face”. Asserting that he has “no animosity towards the BJP,” Mr. Annamalai said he would look at the BJP at par with other parties like the DMK, AIADMK and other political leaders.
As he launched a political movement, several officials resigned to him on Friday. Former Coimbatore BJP district president Balaji Uthamaramaswamy and K. Vasantharajan, who contested the 2024 assembly elections in Pollachi, said they would join his movement.
A few hours after Mr. Annamalai’s announcement, BJP state unit vice-president Karu. Nagarajan left the party and expressed interest in joining a new political movement. Speaking to reporters, Mr. Nagarajan said that Mr. Annamalai has taken the party’s reach even to remote areas. Many BJP functionaries took to social media to express their support for Mr. Annamalai’s new political movement.
“No Cult Movement; Will Face Next General Election”
While seeking time from his supporters for his political movement to evolve into a political party, Mr. Annamalai said there was “no doubt that he will face the next general election” in Tamil Nadu.
Sharing his ideas for his new political movement, Mr. Annamalai said the new initiative is aimed at including Generation Z, Generation Alpha and also the elderly. However, he warned that the initiative “will not be another cult movement”.
The politics of the common man, responsible behavior on social networks
Political grammar and political language need a change, Mr. Annamalai argued, further advocating that there is indeed scope for a new political party in Tamil Nadu. “We will have to come out of cult politics. It will be the politics of ordinary people, there will be no compromise in principle,” he said. He further stressed the need for a “term limit” for elected representatives and “there could be no permanent MPs, MLAs or ministers”.
Mr. Annamalai advocated “clean politics” with efficient and capable leaders and said that “no chair is permanent for anyone” and that the movement should “flow like water” and “the movement should stand outside us”. Sharing details and more portal, which was launched in 2020Mr. Annamalai said the Coimbatore center was inspired by the ideals of former President Abdul Kalam. According to him, any ideology would rise and fall if it did not remain relevant to the times.
His idea of a new political movement needs time to develop, he said. Mr. Annamalai also appealed to his supporters to behave responsibly on social media.
Published – 5 Jun 2026 13:39 IST