Former IPS officer K. Annamalai parted ways with the BJP on Thursday, with the party’s leadership officially accepting his resignation. Announcing his departure, Annamalai explained that his exit stems from a dream to bring a transformative change to national politics, prompting him to launch a new public movement titled ‘We the Leaders’. His call to action has triggered an overwhelming response, particularly on social media. Following the launch of an online portal on Friday afternoon to garner support, the movement saw a massive influx of followers, registering nearly 1.4 million (13.85 lakh) sign-ups within just 24 hours.
With an eye on the 2031 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, Annamalai revealed his plans to eventually transition this movement into a political party. He emphasized that the primary goal of ‘We the Leaders’ is to safeguard the rights of the people of Tamil Nadu and elevate the state to a leading position. In his message on the website, he termed volunteers as the lifeblood of the movement, urging the youth, professionals, and common citizens to join hands starting from small local initiatives. He noted that despite lacking a wealthy industrial background or traditional stardom, his sole driving force is a genuine passion to work for the public.
Reflecting on his six-year journey with the BJP, Annamalai acknowledged having differences of opinion with the central leadership over crucial matters concerning Tamil Nadu’s cultural heritage and identity. He stated that he had endured the situation patiently for the past year and a half without compromising on the state’s interests. Moving forward, he noted that he views the BJP through the same lens as other regional parties like the DMK, AIADMK, TVK, and PMK. He announced that his movement plans to contest the 2029 parliamentary elections, aiming to build a people-centric political culture that puts an end to the tradition of permanent MLAs and MPs.
