Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran

New Delhi: Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran on Friday said the departure of former state president Annamalai will not cause any loss to the party. His comments came after Annamalai’s resignation from the BJP was formally accepted earlier in the day.Addressing reporters after Annamalai’s exit, Nagendran said, “There is no damage.” His comments came soon after Annamalai announced the launch of a new political movement and confirmed that she would contest future assembly elections in Tamil Nadu.Earlier, Annamalai addressed supporters via social media and explained the reasons behind his decision to leave the BJP and launch a new political platform. The former IPS officer said he had informed the BJP leadership about his decision several months ago.“I told the party on December 4, 2025, that I am going to resign. The party asked me to finish the elections and then leave,” Annamalai said.He said he joined the BJP with the aim of bringing positive change and now believes the time has come to create a new political alternative in Tamil Nadu.“We will encourage all sections of the society to participate in the political movement. Besides, more technocrats will be encouraged to join the party,” he said.Annamalai said his proposed movement would try to bring systemic change in the political culture of the state.“We must utilize all available talents for the development of the state. To achieve this, we must change our political grammar and culture. We must eliminate sectarian politics and dynastic politics,” he said.He also stressed that politics should not revolve around individuals holding positions indefinitely.“There is no permanent MLA, MP or minister. This includes me too.” This will be our goal and the motto of our political movement.”According to Annamalai, Tamil Nadu needs another political power that can offer a different style of governance and leadership.“There is a need for another political party,” he said.Annamalai urged his supporters to remain patient as the new movement takes shape.“Whoever wants to join, let them be patient. They require a curing period, like a brick used to build the foundation of a building. Trust me and stay with me. We will definitely revolutionize Tamil Nadu and make it the number one state in the country.”He further said that the youth are looking for change and the movement will try to connect with them through modern platforms.“Our youth are hungry for change. We cannot ignore them and that is why we are reaching out to them through social media,” he said.Annamalai announced that the movement would be called the APJ Abdul Kalam Center for Ethics and Politics and would be headquartered in Coimbatore.The BJP confirmed that party president Nitin Nabin has accepted Annamalai’s resignation from the primary membership of the party.“Bharatiya Janata Party national president Nitin Nabin has accepted the resignation tendered by former Tamil Nadu state president K. Annamalai from the primary membership of the party,” the BJP said in an official statement.The development came after Annamalai visited New Delhi and held meetings with BJP president Nitin Nabin, party general secretary BL Santosh and Home Minister Amit Shah.Annamalai’s exit comes after months of speculation about his future in the BJP. The rumors gained momentum following the BJP’s poor performance in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections, where the party secured only three per cent vote share while contesting the elections as part of the AIADMK-led alliance.Despite recent setbacks, Annamalai is credited with significantly expanding the BJP’s presence in Tamil Nadu during his tenure as state president. Under his leadership, the party’s vote share increased from around three per cent to around 11 per cent in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.However, the BJP failed to win a parliamentary seat in the state, leading to Nainar Nagendran replacing Annamalai as the Tamil Nadu BJP chief in 2025.In recent weeks, posters urging Annamalai to return to active politics and lead a new movement had appeared in Coimbatore, leading to speculation that he was preparing to chart an independent political course.With the launch of the APJ Abdul Kalam Center for Ethics and Politics, Annamalai has now formally entered a new phase of his political career, setting the stage for a new challenge in the political landscape of Tamil Nadu.