Lock your caste, religion at home: Ex-BJP leader Annamalai pitches secular politics

Coimbatore,UPDATED: Jul 12, 2026 22:39 IST

Former BJP Tamil Nadu president K Annamalai said on Sunday that his voluntary movement, "We The Leaders", will eventually become a political party. Speaking at its first conference, centred on anti-drug awareness, he also indicated that his proposed party would follow secular politics and said its aim would be "healthy politics" rather than "cheap or power politics".

At the event, Annamalai struck a more conciliatory tone towards the ruling TVK, saying society should support a government if it falters instead of pulling it down. He said the conference was not meant to target any political party or leader, but to address drugs and other public issues, while also outlining his movement's broader focus on social change, women’s development and leadership.

Addressing the conference in Pollachi near Coimbatore, Annamalai said he remained a proud nationalist and Indian, and that his struggle was to ensure Tamil Nadu emerged on top. He questioned the politics of setting Tamil identity against Indian identity. "We do not need that politics," he said.

Referring to the ruling TVK, he said many of those who became MLAs were ordinary people who had overcome struggle and were not people who had been legislators for 15 or 20 years. "All ministers are first time ministers barring Sengottaiyan. They will stumble, trip and when that happens a good society lifts them up and not push them down," he said.

Stressing that his movement would become a political party, Annamalai said, "There need not be any doubt about it. This will become a political party." He said more than 19 lakh people had joined the movement in 38 days. "When this count touches 50 lakh it means that Tamil Nadu people are inviting, welcoming us," he said. He added that in 2031, his party would stand before the people for healthy politics and that "people will give us that opportunity".

He said the conference was not intended to create trouble for the newly elected government and added, "This rally is not to blame a political party. This rally is not to allege that a leader is not good." At the same time, he referred to issues including public debt and claimed that this year the TVK government would borrow not less than Rs 85,000 crore, followed by Rs 80,000 crore next year. By the end of the TVK regime in 2031, borrowing would reach Rs 14-15 lakh crore, he claimed, and said the issue had to be addressed.

Annamalai said, "Our responsibility is to bring good leaders...when every individual begins working for social causes, transformation will unfold in front of our eyes and you will see that." He also said nobody should be forced to join the movement and that participation should be voluntary and based on the work done.

He asserted that a true Hindu treats everyone equally and does not see anyone as high or low. "I am a Hindu, I sport sacred ash, kumkum; but when I step out, I lock up my caste and religion inside my house and stand before you as an ordinary man common to all the people. There is no need to highlight and display religion every time," he said. He added, "True Hindu treats all equally, he does not talk that one is superior and that another is inferior. He will say that everyone must go together in a straight line. That is my Hindu philosophy...caste and religion are outside of this movement...enough is enough as regards the caste and religion-centric politics." He said religion was important for every person, but it should remain within the private space.

Annamalai hailed Mahatma Gandhi for securing India’s freedom and changing its destiny. He said service, the transformation of Tamil Nadu and women’s development were key ideals of "We The Leaders". He also objected to attempts to brand him anti-Hindu for backing the TVK regime’s move to grant "Inam" category lands to people in Karur, saying such lands had nothing to do with temple-owned land.

On the recent Tamil Nadu Assembly polls, he said those below 39 years of age had brought about the regime change. He said a similar age group would bring a "very big regime change" in 2031, when the next Assembly election is due. Over the next six months, he said, the movement would take up six important issues, including the environment and women’s protection, to create awareness and address key concerns.

Six resolutions were passed at the anti-drug awareness conference against drugs, alcohol dependence and abuse. One of them called for an end to the "illegal sale" of liquor and for the closure of liquor outlets near educational institutions, places of worship and bus termini. The slogan "Maaruvom Maatruvom" echoed through the event, and several students took a pledge against drugs.

The Pollachi conference, Annamalai’s first major public event after leaving the BJP, marked the launch of his movement’s public campaign, with a sharp anti-drug message, a call for social reform and a clear declaration that "We The Leaders" is intended to grow into a political party.

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With inputs from PTI