Post C Joseph Vijay-led TVK’s surprise victory in 2026 Assembly elections, Tamil Nadu may witness yet another unexpected political twist soon – the launch of a new policial outfit. Former BJP state president K Annamalai is rumoured to be weighing the possibility of leaving the saffron party and introducing his own outfit in the coming days.
With speculations gaining significant attention across political circles in the southern state, several of Annamalai’s supporters on social media are floating party names and flag. Citing sources, News18 has even reported that an announcement in this regard could be made as early as June 3, when he is expected to hold a press conference.
Is Annamalai leaving the BJP?
According to Mathrubhumi, speculations over Annamalai’s political future have recently gathered momemtum after posters were put up across Coimbatore, featuring the BJP leader’s name and the slogan: “Fearless minds gave no limits”. This has prompted many to assume that he could be gearing up to launch his new political party.
Notably, the posters were placed at a time when the saffron party convened its state central committee meeting in the city. Annamalai remained absent from the meeting as he is currently abroad.
However, the report highlights that this was the second consecutive state central committee meeting that Annamalai has skipped in recent times. His supporters have allegedly claimed that his fan welfare association, Annamalai Anbu Koottam, has already started enrolling new members and office-bearers, further intensifying talks that a new political platform could be launched in coming days.
Adding to the buzz, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram wrote on X, “One more political party in TN is in the offing, the churn accelerates. (MS- there is an interesting logic to the proposed name).”
One more political party in TN is in the offing, the churn accelerates. (MS- there is an interesting logic to the proposed name)
— Karti P Chidambaram (@KartiPC) May 31, 2026
Addressing the speculations on Monday, June 1, Annamalai said, “Please wait. We will sit down and talk in two days”.
#WATCH | Tamil Nadu | BJP leader K. Annamalai leaves for Delhi from Chennai.
When asked on speculations about him expected to launch a new party, he says, “Please wait. We will sit down and talk in two days” pic.twitter.com/5qOZfp7OHD
— ANI (@ANI) June 1, 2026
As per reports, he could meet BJP president Nitin Nabin in New Delhi.
A former IPS officer, Annamalai came into spotlight when he became one of the youngest leaders to head the Tamil Nadu BJP. He was appointed as the state BJP president in July 2021 at the age of 37. He continued to hold the position until 2025, when the saffron party decided to revive its alliance with the AIADMK ahead of the high-stakes 2026 Assembly elections in the state.
Political observers have even pointed out that Annamalai did not post anything about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s ‘Mann Ki Baat’ programme on Sunday.
Annamalai ‘unhappy’ with the BJP
As per reports, there are multiple reasons why Annamalai could be thinking about starting his own political party.
He was rumoured to be unhappy with the BJP’s decision to revive its alliance with the AIADMK for the Assembly elections in Tamil Nadu. However, he is said to have eventually fell in line with the party leadership and was spotted campaigning extensively for the NDA.
At the time when he exited the state president post, it was claimed that he was among the BJP’s strongest critics of the AIADMK leadership when their alliance collapsed in September 2023.
Besides this, speculations have been fulled by some of his recent public positions. Annamalai had publicly took a stand against the CBSE’s decision to implement the three-language policy for Class 9 students from the current academic year.
A few days ago, the BJP leader even asked the Ministry of Education to withdraw its notification in this regard.
“This has come as a shock to many parents, especially those from Tamil Nadu, as their children have already selected a language of choice in class VI. The revised notification now mandates that class IX students learn three languages, two of which must be native to India, with effect from July 1, 2026. Expecting a class IX student to learn a new language at such short notice will only pressurise children and affect their overall learning outcomes,” he wrote on X.
He added, “I request the Ministry of Education to immediately roll back this notification and honour its previous commitment to introduce three languages-of which two shall be native Indian languages-for class IX students from the academic year 2029-30”.
கடந்த 2026 ஆம் ஆண்டு, ஏப்ரல் மாதம், CBSE அமைப்பு, மாணவர்களுக்கு ஆறாம் வகுப்பிலிருந்து மூன்று மொழிகள் கட்டாயம் என்றும், அந்த மூன்று மொழிகளில் இரண்டு மொழிகள் இந்திய மொழிகளாக இருக்க வேண்டும் என்றும் அறிவித்தபோது, இந்தியாவின் பலதரப்பட்ட இலக்கிய மற்றும் கலாச்சார பாரம்பரியத்தை,… pic.twitter.com/JY7iIXMLdY
— K.Annamalai (@annamalai_k) May 26, 2026
Speaking to The New Indian Express, a senior BJP leader has downplayed the speculations regarding Annamalai’s exit from the BJP and said, “We have no information that he is leaving the BJP or planning to launch a new party”.