Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai on Friday broke his silence on his dramatic exit from the Bharatiya Janata Party, saying a growing conflict between his commitment to Tamil Nadu's interests and the party's political direction ultimately pushed him to quit.

"There was a great conflict over whether I am a BJP person or a Tamilian," Annamalai said while announcing a new political movement that he said would contest the next Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

The former IPS officer revealed that he had informed the BJP leadership of his decision to leave as early as December 4, 2025, months before the Assembly polls. According to him, the party leadership asked him to stay on and complete election responsibilities before making his departure public.

His remarks offer the clearest explanation yet for a resignation that has fuelled speculation across Tamil Nadu's political landscape.

In his resignation letter to BJP national president Nitin Nabin, Annamalai indicated that his vision for Tamil Nadu's future no longer aligned with that of the party.

"After my conversations with our senior leadership, I have come to the conclusion that our views don't align regarding Tamil Nadu," he wrote.

While stressing that he continues to hold Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP leadership in high regard, Annamalai said he spent nearly 18 months discussing his concerns with senior leaders before deciding to chart an independent course.

"I have great respect for PM Modi, discussed differences calmly with leadership for 18 months," he said.

The announcement comes just days after Annamalai met BJP president Nitin Nabin, party general secretary BL Santhosh and Union Home Minister Amit Shah in New Delhi, fuelling speculation about his political future.

Annamalai said the new organisation would be built from the ground up and would seek to develop a fresh political framework rooted in Tamil Nadu's identity, culture and aspirations.

"From today onwards, it is a new path and a new movement," he said.

His exit marks one of the most significant setbacks for the BJP in Tamil Nadu. Widely credited with expanding the party's footprint in the state, Annamalai helped increase the BJP's vote share from around 3 per cent to double digits during his tenure, emerging as one of the party's most recognisable faces in the South.

With ANI & PTI inputs