Annamalai floats ‘political movement’, to fight next general election in Tamil Nadu

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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”, which is heavily inspired by the ideals promoted by former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam. A few hours before his announcement, the BJP said its national president Nitin Nabin accepted the resignation of Mr. Annamalai from the primary membership of the party.

Sharing his idea of the new political movement through social media platforms, Mr. Annamalai said it would eventually evolve into a political party at the right time, with its functionaries trained at Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam Centre for Ethics and Politics in Coimbatore. All of its functionaries will be trained in the centre before they contest in any election, he said.

Mr. Annamalai said there were several “issues” in the BJP, which was flagged to the national leadership “patiently” over several months before his resignation. He did not wish to become yet another issue for the party leadership. Though he conveyed his decision to part ways with the BJP on December 4 last year, Mr. Annamalai said he accepted the party’s request to stay on till the completion of the Tamil Nadu Assembly election till May 2026.

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The former IPS officer said he continued to respect BJP leader and Prime Minister Narendra Modi but still chose to disagree with him on certain issues with courage. He chose to meet BJP leader and Union Minister Amit Shah to convey his decision “eye to eye”. Maintaining he has “no animosity against the BJP,” Mr. Annamalai said he will look at the BJP just like how he saw other parties such as the DMK, AIADMK, and other political leaders.

Even as he sought time from his supporters for his political movement to evolve into a political party, Mr. Annamalai said there is “n