CHENNAI/NEW DELHI, June 5: Former Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai, who gained huge popularity due to his aggressive style of politics and took on the Dravidian parties head-on, resigned from the party’s primary membership on Friday.Asserting that his goals are bigger and that more people would have to be taken along under a fresh inclusive agenda, he announced that he would launch a new political party and face the next polls in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media address, Annamalai said, “I have great respect for PM Modi,” and asserted that he has quit the BJP in a dignified manner. He further asserted his commitment to ushering in a new kind of politics.
“From today onwards, a new path, a new movement; a new political movement,” he declared after BJP national chief Nitin Nabin accepted his resignation.Annamalai is learnt to have tendered his resignation during his recent visit to Delhi.“The National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Nitin Nabin, has accepted the resignation submitted by the Tamil Nadu Ex-State President, K Annamalai, from the primary membership of the party,” BJP national general secretary Arun Singh said in a statement on Friday.While Annamalai’s supporters welcomed his decision by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets, the BJP said his exit was no loss to the party.
In his address, the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief said the new movement, he proposed to launch must, from the foundation level, have new dimensions and a new perspective.
“We have to groom leaders, cadres for the new party; it will take time,” he said.
Recalling his presidency as Tamil Nadu BJP chief, Annamalai said he never compromised on any right, including TN’s identity, culture and water rights.The former top state leader explained that he did not quit the party all of a sudden and that he had calmly held discussions on difference of opinon with the party leadership for about 18 months.(PTI)
