New Delhi/Chennai, 5 June

Former Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai, who gained huge popularity due to his aggressive style of politics and took on the Dravidian parties head-on, resigned from the party's primary membership on Friday.

Asserting that his goals are bigger and that more people would have to be taken along under a fresh inclusive agenda, he announced that he would launch a new political party and face the next polls in Tamil Nadu.

In a social media address, Annamalai said, "I have greatr espect for PM Modi," and asserted that he has quit the BJP in a dignified manner. He further asserted his commitment to ushering in a new kind of politics. "From today onwards, a new path, a new movement; a new political movement," he declared after BJP national chief Nitin Nabin accepted his resignation.

Annamalai is learnt to have tendered his resignation during his recent visit to Delhi.

While Annamalai's supporters welcomed his decision by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets, the BJP said his exit was no loss to the party.

In his address, the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief said the new movement he proposed to launch must, from the foundation level, have new dimensions and a new perspective. "We have to groom leaders, cadres for the new party; it will take time," he said.

Recalling his presidency as Tamil Nadu BJP chief, Annamalaisaid he never compromised on any right, including TN's identity, culture and water rights. The former top state leader explained that he did not quit the party all of a sudden and that he had calmly held discussions on difference of opinion with the party leadership for about 18 months.

Eventually, he conveyed to the BJP leadership as early in December, 2025 that he would like to quit the party and he was asked by the party brass to complete Assembly election work and as "a true worker," he complied with that directive. Batting for "inclusive politics," he said everybody should be utilised for TN's growth. "We should come out of cult politics, establish common man politics," he asserted.

During his term as TN BJP President, Annamalai became hugely popular for his aggressive style of politics and he relentlessly targeted the DMK and even released 'DMK files' alleging corruption. When Annamalai allegedly targeted late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa over her conviction, the AIADMK saw red and said it was an unacceptable comment.

Also, he sparked a controversy by alleging Dravidian stalwart CN Annadurai insulted Hinduism at a Madurai event in 1956. Eventually, the AIADMK snapped ties with the BJP in September 2023 ahead of the Lok Sabha polls the following year.

When the AIADMK and BJP again forged an alliance, Nainar Nagenthran, was elected in April 2025 as the BJP chief of Tamil Nadu and Annamalai exited from the top office.

Reacting to Annamalai's resignation, Nagenthran told reporters here: "There will be no loss to the BJP due to his (Annamalai's) resignation. There won't be any setback to the BJP, which is the biggest party in the world. The party will remain steadfast on its ideology."

On Annamalai's decision to launch his own political party, he said everyone was free to start a political party in a democracy.

DMK leader MM Abdullah alleged that Annamalai will not be BJP's B-Team but would be the Saffron's party's "direct team."

Several BJP/RSS workers said in social media that the Saffron outfit's ideology-driven work, irrespective of electoral victory or defeat, would continue and that the party was not dependent on any individuals.

MDMK leader Durai Vaiko hailed Annamalai's decision to quit the BJP and launch his own party.

"I wish my brother Annamalai all success and hope that he goes by the Dravidian ideology," Durai told reporters here.

 Annamalai was believed to have been rather upset since being replaced by Nagenthran as the Tamil Nadu BJP president and following the revival of the electoral alliance with the AIADMK in preparation for the 2026 Assembly elections in the state. He had already announced that he would share his thoughts in social media on 5 June.