Few will disagree that K. Annamalai’s resignation from the BJP on June 5, 2026, and the launch of his youth-focused 'We The Leaders' movement is a great loss for the party, which has been trying for a respectable presence in the important state of Tamil Nadu.
His departure follows months of widening friction with the BJP’s central leadership, primarily stemming from his disapproval over the party reviving its electoral alliance with the AIADMK for the 2026 Assembly elections. Annamalai strongly advocated for building an independent, grassroots footprint rather than relying on established regional partners.
And Annamalai, who quit the prestigious Indian Police Service to join the BJP in 2022, is right, in my humble opinion, that the only way the BJP could progress in Tamil Nadu is to pursue an independent path by abandoning the policy of alliance with either the DMK or AIADMK that the party has done over the years.
No wonder why he was widely considered the most visible face of the BJP in Tamil Nadu. His combative campaigning style, anti-corruption narratives, and intensive statewide outreach programs were credited with elevating the BJP's media presence and expanding its vote share.
In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he proved what the BJP could do if it stood alone. But before the Assembly polls, he was removed as the State President of the party. It was widely viewed as a precondition set by AIADMK chief Edappadi K. Palaniswami to form a coalition.
His exit signalled that the BJP central leadership prioritized immediate electoral arithmetic via the AIADMK over a protracted, decades-long battle to establish a solo saffron footprint. Obviously , Anamali was not happy.
It has been reported that the BJP central leadership tried its best to nullify Anamalai and was prepared to offer him a Rajya Sabha seat. But now that he has gone, one does not know how Modi will be able to remove the perception that his government is anti-Tamil Nadu, a perception the previous DMK government of Stalin and the present government of actor-turned politician Vijay have tried to solidify.
And that is unfair to Modi, because no Indian Prime Minister has done as much to woo Tamils as he has.
Just see the following facts:
Tamil Language Promotion
It is Modi who started the annual "Kashi Tamil Sangamam" in his parliamentary constituency, Varanasi, in 2022. Now it is in its 4th edition. The 2025-26 theme was ‘Learn Tamil – Tamil Karakalam’ with special Tamil campaigns in 50+ schools in Varanasi. Modi has fondly said, “Kashi now speaks Tamil too”.
Academic "Bharathiar Chair” has been established at Banaras Hindu University. In his “ Mann Ki Baat & Public Messagings", Modi regularly calls Tamil the “world’s oldest language”. He has played audio of Hindi-speaking children from Varanasi learning Tamil
It is Modi who urged the TN government to start medical courses in Tamil so “children of poor families can fulfil their dream of becoming doctors”.
Globally, “Tamil Studies Chairs* have been established. With Indian government help, one such chair has been established in the University of Houston, US. There is now a Thiruvalluvar Chair at University of Malaya, Malaysia. In fact, it has been decided that Thiruvalluvar Centre & Scholarships would be set up in Malaysia to promote Thiruvalluvar’s teachings, Tamil language & Indian philosophy.
Tamil Culture & Heritage
In July 2025, Modi participated in Aadi Thiruvathirai Festival at Gangaikonda Cholapuram to mark 1000 years of Rajendra Chola I’s maritime expedition.
He brought back 11th-century Chola-era Anaimangalam copper plates from the Netherlands after 300+ years. Plates record Chola maritime strength & SE Asia links.
In his lectures abroad, the Prime Minister has praised the Chola “kudavolai” system as one of the earliest forms of participatory democracy. He has revealed how his government retrieved 30+ stolen antiquities and these belong to Tamil Nadu.
The central government has published books on Rameswaram, Sri Ramanuja, Arikamedu, Nayanmars/Alwars, Meenakshi & Brihadeesvara Temples.
Tamil Nadu Development Projects
Since 2014, Centre says allocations to TN have increased manifold.
Infrastructure & Connectivity
*Railways: 77 stations being modernised under Amrit Bharat Station Scheme, including 8 inaugurated: Morappur, Bommidi, Srivilliputtur, Sholavandan, Manaparai, Pollachi, Karaikkudi, Thiruvarur. Nine Vande Bharat + nine Amrit Bharat trains serving TN. Chennai Egmore–Chennai Beach 4th line dedicated.
Energy & Industry
If one wants to compare what major central budgetary expenditures were for the developmental works in Tamil Nadu were before 204 before Modi assumed office and now, figures are startling:
Imagine, if despite doing so much, the BJP does not get votes in Tamil Nadu. But now with the departure of Anamali, who seemed to be the best person to take the party forward, the BJP faces a dauntic task ahead.
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