Is K. Annamalai in the BJP or not? This is the question that’s been troubling everyone’s mind. Reports circulated that he resigned yesterday due to dissatisfaction with the party, and talks of forming a new party have been doing the rounds.
Just when it seemed that former Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai was ready to leave the party and embark on a separate political journey, a meeting with Home Minister Amit Shah clarified the picture of his resignation.
Annamalai arrived in Delhi on Tuesday and met with senior party leaders, including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, BJP President Nitin Naveen, and National General Secretary (Organization) B.L. Santosh. This meeting came amid strong speculation that he was preparing to resign from the party and form a new political party in Tamil Nadu in the coming months.
The BJP does not want Annamalai to leave the party.
However, sources say that the BJP high command is not yet ready to allow him to leave the party. Furthermore, even though Annamalai is camping in Delhi, sources also indicate that he has not yet resigned from the party.
Annamalai, who was adamant on resigning from the BJP, has softened his stance after meeting with Amit Shah. He will now meet with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, only after which will he make a final decision on his resignation. Meanwhile, given Annamalai’s displeasure with Tamil Nadu BJP leaders, state president Nayanar Nagendran has been summoned to Delhi.
According to highly placed sources, Amit Shah and Annamalai held a detailed discussion regarding the political situation in Tamil Nadu and the future of politics following Vijay’s historic victory.
During the discussion, Annamalai spoke about his intention to leave the party and launch a major public relations campaign from Coimbatore. According to sources, Amit Shah responded that this public relations campaign could also be conducted under the BJP’s banner, and it would be more effective. However, Annamalai, citing the internal alliance of state BJP leaders with the AIADMK and DMK, said he would not allow it to succeed.
In response, Amit Shah assured Annamalai of full support from the central organization and that clear instructions would be issued to state leaders. High-ranking BJP sources also denied the five-page resignation letter that Annamalai submitted to Nitin Naveen, which was being circulated in the media.
It is reported that Annamalai did verbally discuss his resignation during meetings with both Nitin Naveen and BL Santosh. However, both leaders urged him to make a decision only after meeting with Amit Shah.
Following Annamalai’s softening of stance, discussions have begun within the BJP regarding his responsibilities. These include reappointing him as state president and giving him a key position in the central organization. But this will only be decided after a meeting with Prime Minister Modi.
It’s worth noting that Annamalai was unhappy with the alliance with the AIADMK before the assembly elections, as well as his removal from the state president position and exclusion from the decision-making process. Before the alliance with the AIADMK, Annamalai was replaced by Nayanar Nagendran as state president.