Tamil Nadu BJP leader K. Annamalai meets Amit Shah

K. Annamalai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi on June 2, 2026. Photo: Prospectus via PTI.

Tamil Nadu BJP leader K. Annamalai met Union Home Minister Amit Shah at his residence in New Delhi on Tuesday (June 2, 2026). amid speculation that he might leave the party and launch a new political group in the state.

According to sources, Mr. Annamalai’s meeting with Mr. Shah lasted for about 30 minutes. But it was not immediately known what happened between them at the meeting.

After the meeting, he left Mr. Shah’s residence without speaking to the media. Several media reports claimed that Mr. Annamalai also met BJP president Nitin Nabin and the party’s national general secretary BL Santhosh and offered his resignation from the party, but this has not been officially confirmed.

“He hasn’t resigned yet,” a party source said. Mr. Annamalai has reportedly sulked in the party ever since he was replaced by Nainar Nagenthran as the Tamil Nadu BJP president and the electoral pact with the AIADMK was renewed ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.

He also did not contest the parliamentary polls in 2026. Though BJP members from the Coimbatore region had expected Mr. Annamalai to contest, he later clarified that he had opted out of the race.

Mr Annamalai arrived in Delhi on Monday (June 1) to challenge the party leadership amid speculation that he might launch a new political party.

Asked about speculation that he might launch a new political party, Mr Annamalai told reporters at the airport before his flight to Delhi that he would provide answers and clarify his position within two days.

“Please wait. We will sit and talk in two days,” he told reporters in Chennai before leaving for Delhi when he was pressed to say he was heading to the national capital to meet party chief Nitin Nabin as he planned to quit the party.

Published – 02 Jun 2026 19:47 IST