Parting ways on cordial terms, Annamalai submits resignation

CHENNAI: K Annamalai, former Tamil Nadu BJP chief submitted his resignation after holding talks with party chief Nitin Nabin. He submitted his five-page resignation letter before his meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The meeting with Amit Shah is scheduled for 4 pm today. It is being reported that the official announcement will be made after that. There are also rumors that the BJP has not officially accepted the resignation letter.

Sources close to Annamalai say that he has informed to resign from the party in a respectful and amicable manner. Although the party offered him a Rajya Sabha seat, Annamalai has reportedly rejected it. After he was removed from the post of Tamil Nadu BJP president and Nainar Nagendran took over as the new president, Annamalai has not been active in public forums. It is reported that Annamalai said in a discussion with BJP national leaders Nitin Nabin and B L Santhosh that he wants to leave the party as he wants to choose his own path.

While Annamalai remained a well-known leader in Tamil Nadu politics and at the national level, Annamalai had started clashing with the BJP state and national leadership. Annamalai came out in public with his opposition when the state BJP started moving to form an alliance with the AIADMK. Annamalai was of the view that the BJP should build its organizational strength in the state without forming an alliance. However, the national leadership, with the aim of defeating the DMK led by M K Stalin, remained firm in the alliance and rejected Annamalai's argument.

There were strong rumors that he felt that he had no future in the BJP and wanted to leave the party. This is now confirmed by Annamalai's decision. There are also indications that Annamalai may form his own new political party after leaving the BJP.