'Lot Of Respect For PM Modi, But...': Watch What Annamalai Said After Resigning From BJP

Last Updated:June 05, 2026, 16:53 IST

Annamalai says he told BJP of his plan to resign in December, quits after long differences, to launch his own political movement and contest elections.

Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has said that his decision to quit the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was not sudden, revealing in a video message that he had informed the party leadership of his intention to resign as early as December 4 last year.

In the video, which surfaced on social media after his resignation on Friday, Annamalai said he had been grappling with an internal conflict over his political identity.

“It was a great conflict whether I am a BJP person or a Tamilian. I told the party on 4 December 2025 that I am going to resign. The party asked me to finish the elections and then go," he said.

Watch The Video Here

The former state BJP chief stressed that his departure followed months of deliberation rather than a sudden decision. He said he had held calm discussions with the party leadership over differences of opinion for nearly 18 months before stepping down from the BJP’s membership.

Annamalai, who was one of the BJP’s most prominent faces in Tamil Nadu, announced that he would launch a “political movement" of his own and would contest the general elections. He said his political goals were “bigger" and required a broader, more inclusive platform.

While asserting his respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Annamalai said he had left the BJP in a dignified manner and remained committed to bringing a new style of politics to Tamil Nadu.

The BJP confirmed his exit, with national general secretary Arun Singh stating that party president Nitin Nabin had accepted Annamalai’s resignation from the primary membership of the party.

Annamalai’s supporters celebrated the announcement, while BJP leaders downplayed the impact of his departure. The former IPS officer said building a new political movement would take time, as it would require grooming leaders and cadres from the grassroots level.

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Manisha Roy

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com's general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish...Read More

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