Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai resigns from party: Reports

Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai is reported to have tendered his resignation from the party during a meeting with BJP national president Nitin Nabin on Tuesday, according to a News18 report.

He is also expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah later in the day at 4 pm. However, there has been no official confirmation or statement from Annamalai or his camp regarding the reported resignation.

There had been intense speculation that Annamalai, who has kept a low profile since being replaced as Tamil Nadu BJP chief by Nainar Nagendran, wished to part ways with the party, with reports suggesting that he no longer saw a future in the BJP.

He also met the party's National General Secretary BL Santosh, amid growing speculation on social media over Annamalai's political future and reports suggesting he may be planning to launch a new political party.

On Monday, when asked about the various rumours circulating on social media claiming that he is planning to leave the party and start a new political party, he said, "Please wait. We will sit down and talk in two days."

His remarks come amid intense discussion on social media over his next political move.

Posters featuring slogans like "Our Leader, Come and Lead Us" have been put up along key roads and streets in the city ahead of Annamalai's birthday on June 4.

The high political shift comes after the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, which marked a historic shift in state politics as TVK won 108 seats in its debut election, ending the decades-long dominance of the DMK and AIADMK formations.

Following the Victory, Vijay assumed charge at the Tamil Nadu Secretariat in Chennai shortly after taking oath as the 13th Chief Minister of the state.

Along with Vijay, who secured the support of 120 MLAs in the 234-member state Assembly, Governor Arlekar also administered the oath of office to the new Cabinet of Vijay that includes ministers 'Bussy' N Anand, Aadhav Arjuna, KA Sengottaiyan, KG Arunraaj, P Venkataramanan, CTR Nirmal Kumar, A Rajmohan, Keerthana and KT Prabhu.

In his first speech as Chief Minister, Vijay thanked the people of the State for placing their trust in him and called for a "new era" of governance based on secularism and social justice. "Come, let all of us together give Tamil Nadu a fresh new government. This is a new beginning, the start of a new era of secular, social justice," he said amid loud cheers from supporters and party workers.