Annamalai 2.0 Is All Set To Woo The Gen Z: Who Is In His Team?

Last Updated:June 06, 2026, 12:07 IST

After parting ways with the BJP, K Annamalai is taking the digital route to build his new political movement, backed by a young team driving his Gen Z outreach.

Days after his speculated resignation from the BJP, K Annamalai’s residence along Chennai’s ECR was buzzing with activity. Team members were seen peering into laptop screens, making hectic phone calls and engaging in serious discussions.

For a journalist for whom hectic activity usually signals weeks-long live reporting, Annamalai’s severing of ties with the BJP was fairly short and uneventful. After his visit to New Delhi and conversations with the high command, Annamalai announced his resignation.

Today, Annamalai’s new political movement stands at over 10 lakh registrations and is still surging. The Gen Z approach began with the launch of a website, where visitors can express their support or interest by registering.

In his digital address, Annamalai said he was parting ways with the BJP because of divergent goals and his need to address fundamental issues plaguing the state’s politics.

“People often ask me: Are you a Tamilian or an Indian?, a longstanding conflict. I would always say, I am a proud Indian, steeped in the cultures and traditions of Tamil Nadu," he said in the video note announcing his new journey.

Based on the video note and conversations with him, it appears Annamalai will attempt to build a new political platform that shelves regionalism without compromising or abandoning local interests, drives progressive and cohesive politics in the face of divisive attitudes, and holds the powerful responsible.

“It took us three months to launch this movement — We The Leaders," said a source who played a key role in Annamalai’s new venture.

The team does not have a prominent industrialist or politician. “There are about 25 people who played a key role in Annamalai’s journey — some are his best friends, some are from IIM Lucknow and some come from a software background," the source added.

Two sources in the know of the developments said Annamalai is now skipping the traditional media format and releasing videos via social media to cater to youngsters — something that worked well for TVK.

Instead of the usual press conference that Annamalai organises, this time he has decided to directly communicate his plan to the people through social media platforms.

Sources who are part of Team Annamalai said, “Our leader’s ideology would be nationalist-cum-Tamil identity/philosophy. We will raise issues even if it means going against the BJP and the Union government." A case in point is Annamalai’s tweet opposing the implementation of the three-language policy.

Annamalai believes there is an empty space for a charismatic leader to fight Vijay. He believes he can bridge that gap.

Sources added that over the next few months, Annamalai will try to connect more with people, especially youngsters, get lakhs of members enrolled in his new platform named “We The Leaders", and aim for the 2031 Tamil Nadu elections.

Sources indicate that he will always have the support of superstar Rajinikanth in his new innings. Latha Rajinikanth, the wife of Rajinikanth, has also announced a similar movement.

Tamil Nadu is decisively moving into a new era, with new personalities influencing the political discourse. On one side is the newfound sensation C Joseph Vijay, who has managed to achieve the unthinkable: coming to power within 28 months of his official political entry.

On the other hand are the Dravidian parties, each with its own internal challenges but banking on the inertia of public support garnered over six decades. There is also the Naam Tamilar Katchi, whose fortunes have wavered wildly with the rise of TVK.

Annamalai appears, at first glance, to have entered a fairly crowded arena, with each opponent having established its own strategy and political approach.

As we progress further into the age of social media, replete with active cancel culture, short public memory and sworn irreverence, will he be able to garner and sustain respect?

Only time will tell.

About the Author

Poornima Murali

Poornima Murali, Senior Special Correspondent at CNN-News18, has reported for over a decade on civic and political issues in Tamil Nadu. She has been helming the Chennai bureau for the channel for yea...Read More

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