Former state BJP President is eyeing for a role in 2029 Lok Sabha polls
By Kalyani Shankar
K. Annamalai, the former head of the BJP in Tamil Nadu, has taken significant steps this week to shape his political future, including meeting with top BJP leaders in Delhi and announcing his departure from the party, which aims to raise his political profile and keep readers engaged with his evolving strategy.
Media reports have been active regarding Annamalai’s recent plans. He announced on June 5 that he was quitting the BJP and wanted to start his own political party. With the Lok Sabha polls in mind, Annamalai has big plans for his new venture. His meetings with key BJP leaders in Delhi have attracted attention, especially as he tries to boost his political status.
These talks have sparked speculation about the direction he intends to take, especially after film star Vijay’s recent victory, which seems to have encouraged him to seek new opportunities. Annamalai views this move as the next phase of his public life. He wants to be seen as a key challenger to the TVK.
Annamalai has always been ambitious and positioned himself against the ruling Party leader. The first reaction from the BJP Tamil Nadu President, Nainar Nagendran, was that Annamalai’s exit would not affect the state BJP.
Who is Annamalai, and why is he making waves? Annamalai has a strong background, as he joined the Indian Police Service (IPS) in 2011. His work in the Karnataka police has earned him respect and improved his public image. However, his recent absence from the candidate list for the 2026 Assembly elections has made his supporters question his future. The complex seat-sharing arrangements and party strategies have left many wondering what he will do next. Annamalai was miffed that he was removed as the state BJP chief, Unhappy with the AIADMK alliance. Vijay came to power, ending decades of Dravidian dominance.
The political scene in Tamil Nadu is changing, especially as the traditional Dravidian model faced new realities. Annamalai seeks to play a significant role in political change by choosing Kalam as the ideological figurehead of his new movement. This strategic decision could reshape Tamil Nadu politics, where identities have long been influenced by ideology, personality cults, and dynasties. By highlighting Kalam’s life and achievements, Annamalai aims to promote a message of aspiration and unity, potentially introducing a fresh political vocabulary for the state.
In 2018, after a significant visit to Mansarovar, he resigned from his job as a police officer to support actor Rajinikanth in politics. However, after a year of observation, he found that Rajinikanth remained uncertain about entering politics. The BJP has often viewed itself as second to the AIADMK in Tamil Nadu. Annamalai wanted to take a bold new approach. He publicly criticised the DMK for its governance and corruption. He encouraged the AIADMK to ally with the BJP rather than the other way around. He alienated the AIADMK chief and former chief minister E. Palaniswami, who insisted that he did not want to deal with Annamalai before the 2024 elections. The BJP replaced him with Nainar Nagendran. Annamalai’s leadership was defined by an aggressive, solo brand of politics.
Under his leadership, the state BJP changed from a minor party that depended on the AIADMK into a strong third force. He led high-profile campaigns such as the **En Mann, En Makkal** (My Soil, My People) padayatra, which reached all 234 constituencies. As a result, the party’s vote share grew from just 3.6% in 2019 to over 11% in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Annamalai launched daily attacks on the ruling DMK, exposing corruption allegations and challenging Periyarist ideologies. This confrontational approach made regional leaders take the BJP more seriously but strained the NDA coalition, especially with the AIADMK.
After leaving the national party, Annamalai focused on crafting a new political narrative in Tamil Nadu, emphasising the development of young, uncorrupted leaders independent of the DMK and AIADMK.
Annamalai faced challenges in electoral politics, leading him to withdraw from a contest and indicating that victory was no longer assured. His absence from the BJP’s Tamil Nadu candidate list surprised supporters, especially as Coimbatore North was assigned to Vanathi Srinivasan, raising questions about the party’s strategy. Since Nainar Nagendran became state president, Annamalai has mostly stayed out of the spotlight.
When the candidate list for the Tamil Nadu elections was released on April 3, Annamalai’s absence raised concerns among his supporters due to complex seat-sharing decisions, like Coimbatore North being allocated to Vanathi Srinivasan. Annamalai, who previously lost the 2021 Assembly elections to DMK’s R. Elango, expressed strong predictions about Vijay’s political debut in 2026, stating, “Vijay will do well… He will attract a large segment of young voters and achieve a double-digit share.”
After he was removed as state president in April 2025, speculation about Annamalai’s future increased. Many thought he would take on a national or strong state-level role. However, these hopes faded when the candidate list for the upcoming elections was announced.
Now that Annamalai has taken the plunge, will his party find some space in the crowded Tamil Nadu politics? Does his “ekla chalo” strategy work well? Where will he find the finances to run a party? Will his party attract recognisable leaders from other parties? Only time will tell. In the meantime, he would project himself as an opponent to Vijay and DMK’s Udayanidhi. (IPA Service)
