Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai has officially ended his association with the Bharatiya Janata Party and announced the launch of his own political movement, ‘We the Leaders’. The announcement marks a major development in Tamil Nadu politics, as Annamalai has been one of the BJP’s most prominent faces in the state over the last few years.

The former IPS officer made the announcement through a video message on Friday. He said the decision was guided by the same purpose that brought him into public life. According to Annamalai, he entered politics with the aim of bringing positive change to Tamil Nadu and improving the lives of people. He said he has now chosen a different path to continue pursuing that mission.

His departure from the BJP comes after months of speculation about his political future. It also follows his public differences with the party’s strategy in Tamil Nadu, especially regarding its alliance with the AIADMK. Annamalai had repeatedly expressed his view that the BJP should contest elections in the state on its own rather than depend on alliances.

Speaking about his decision, Annamalai revealed that he had informed the BJP leadership about his intention to leave the party as early as December 2025. He said senior leaders had requested him to remain with the party until the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections before making a final decision.

While announcing his exit, Annamalai expressed respect for Prime Minister Narendra Modi. At the same time, he admitted that he had disagreements with the BJP on several issues over the past 18 months. He once again reiterated his belief that the party should have contested the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections independently.

Along with his resignation, Annamalai announced the formation of his new political movement, ‘We the Leaders’. He confirmed that both he and his party would contest the upcoming Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. Describing his political journey as a “solo battle”, he said he is trying to create a new political space that reflects the aspirations, identity and expectations of the people of Tamil Nadu.

Explaining the reasons behind his exit, Annamalai said he did not want to become a burden or a source of friction within the BJP. He felt that moving on was the best course of action. He also argued that national parties often find it difficult to fully understand the sentiments and expectations of people in Tamil Nadu. According to him, politics in the state should remain closely connected to public concerns and local aspirations.

Annamalai said he wants to walk alongside ordinary citizens and focus on governance and public welfare. He stressed that politics should not be centred around individuals and personalities but should be aimed at solving people's problems and improving administration.

The launch of ‘We the Leaders’ also saw Annamalai target the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK). He criticised what he described as family-centred politics and made it clear that his new party would stand against such practices. He said politics should not revolve around a single family and asserted that there was “no place for cult and dynasty politics”.

According to Annamalai, his goal is to build a people-centric political alternative in Tamil Nadu. He said the new party would focus on the interests and needs of citizens rather than political families or personalities.

During his announcement, Annamalai also made a notable claim regarding his political future. He said that several well-known personalities had encouraged him to join forces with them politically. Among them, he mentioned superstar Rajinikanth. However, Annamalai said he chose not to align with anyone and instead decided to pursue an independent political path.

The BJP formally accepted Annamalai’s resignation on Friday. His resignation was approved by BJP national president Nitin Nabin, bringing an official end to his membership in the party.

The development comes after weeks of intense speculation about Annamalai’s next move. Earlier this year, he stepped down from his organisational responsibilities within the BJP after the party decided to move ahead with a pre-poll alliance with the AIADMK. Despite resigning from party positions, he continued to remain active in election-related campaigning and political activities.

Annamalai’s political journey began after he resigned from the Indian Police Service in 2019. A former Karnataka cadre IPS officer, he entered politics by joining the BJP in 2020. Within a year of joining the party, he was appointed as the Tamil Nadu BJP president. Over the following years, he emerged as the party’s most recognisable and influential leader in the state.

With the formation of ‘We the Leaders’, Annamalai has now embarked on a new political chapter. His decision to leave the BJP and contest elections independently is expected to add a fresh dimension to Tamil Nadu’s political landscape ahead of the next Assembly elections.