Mystery posters, missed BJP meetings: Is Annamalai preparing to launch new party?

Chennai: Fresh speculation over the political future of BJP leader K Annamalai has erupted in Tamil Nadu after posters bearing his image and the slogan, "Fearless minds gave no limits," appeared across Coimbatore, prompting discussions about whether the former state BJP chief is preparing to launch a new political party.

The posters surfaced as the BJP convened its state central committee meeting in Coimbatore. Annamalai, however, is currently abroad and was absent from the gathering.

The development has drawn attention because Annamalai has now skipped two consecutive state central committee meetings, fuelling speculation about his next political move.

Supporters of the BJP leader said that his fan welfare organisation, Annamalai Anbu Koottam, has begun enrolling new members and office-bearers, further intensifying rumours that a separate political platform could be in the works.

So far, Annamalai has not responded publicly to the speculation.

Adding to the political buzz, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram posted on social media: "One more political party in TN is in the offing, the churn accelerates. (MS- there is an interesting logic to the proposed name)."

As rumours gained momentum, sources indicated that Annamalai is expected to meet BJP president Nithin Nabin in Delhi, a meeting that is being closely watched for clues about his future plans.

The speculation comes amid signs of differences between Annamalai and the Centre over the implementation of the three-language policy in CBSE schools.

Last week, the BJP leader urged the Union Education Ministry to withdraw its recent notification making three languages compulsory for Class IX students from the current academic year and instead adhere to its earlier timeline of implementing the measure from the 2029-30 academic year.

Expressing concern over the revised schedule, Annamalai had said: "This has come as a shock to many parents, especially those from Tamil Nadu, as their children have already selected a language of choice in class VI. The revised notification now mandates that class IX students learn three languages, two of which must be native to India, with effect from July 1, 2026. Expecting a class IX student to learn a new language at such short notice will only pressurise children and affect their overall learning outcomes."

Referring to the Centre's earlier position, he noted that the April 2026 notification had stated that the third language requirement for Class IX students would become mandatory only from the 2029-30 academic year.

"I request the Ministry of Education to immediately roll back this notification and honour its previous commitment to introduce three languages-of which two shall be native Indian languages-for class IX students from the academic year 2029-30," Annamalai had said.

While there is no official indication yet that Annamalai is planning to float a new political party, the emergence of posters, his organisational outreach through supporters, his absence from key BJP meetings and recent policy differences with the Centre have together intensified speculation across Tamil Nadu's political landscape.