'No resignation, no new party': Tamil Nadu BJP chief dismisses Annamalai exit buzz

NEW DELHI: Tamil Nadu BJP president Nainar Nagenthran on Thursday sought to end speculation over K Annamalai's political future, insisting that the former state chief has neither resigned from the party nor spoken to anyone about launching a new political outfit.

According to news agency PTI, Nagenthran said reports claiming Annamalai had quit the BJP were "baseless rumours" and maintained there was no difference of opinion between the two leaders.

"As BJP president, I have not received any resignation letter from him. There is no difference of opinion between us. Annamalai has not spoken to anyone about starting a new party. We have not spoken to him about it, and he has not spoken to us," Nagenthran said.

Wishing Annamalai on his birthday, he added: "Reports claiming he has resigned are false, lack substance and are mere rumours."

The clarification comes amid intense speculation over Annamalai's future after he met Union home minister Amit Shah in New Delhi. The BJP has not officially disclosed details of the meeting, fuelling further questions about the former IPS officer's next political move.

The rumours follow months of reported differences between Annamalai and sections of the BJP leadership over the party's strategy in Tamil Nadu.

Sources have indicated that Annamalai was unhappy with the BJP's decision to revive its alliance with the AIADMK ahead of the assembly elections. He is understood to have favoured building the BJP as an independent political force in the state rather than relying on alliances, while the central leadership prioritised a broader anti-DMK coalition.

Sources close to Annamalai have claimed he believes a large section of young professionals, first-time political aspirants and voters dissatisfied with existing parties remain politically unrepresented. They say he is confident that a new platform could attract support from across party lines.

According to these sources, preliminary work has already begun to either register a new political party or acquire an existing registered party structure. A social organisation is also said to be under consideration as a possible precursor to a political launch.

The speculation intensified further after Annamalai recently voiced concerns over the Centre's implementation of the three-language formula for CBSE Class IX students, saying the move had triggered anxieties among parents and students in Tamil Nadu. The remarks were seen by some observers as a rare instance of the former state BJP chief publicly distancing himself from a position associated with the Union government.