Agencies | Chennai:
CHENNAI, June 6: The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) suffered another setback on Friday as two senior leaders resigned from the party, hours after former state president K. Annamalai announced his departure.
BJP State Vice President Karu Nagarajan and State Secretary Sumathi Venkatesh confirmed their resignations, marking the first high-profile exits following Annamalai’s decision to sever ties with the party.
Nagarajan announced that he would join Annamalai’s newly formed political outfit. Praising the former BJP state chief, he described him as a courageous and capable leader with deep knowledge across various sectors.
“Annamalai never hesitates to point out mistakes, irrespective of who commits them,” Nagarajan reportedly said, adding that the former IPS officer had earned widespread respect for his straightforward approach to politics.
Meanwhile, Sumathi Venkatesh shared her resignation letter on social media, stating that she had decided to step down from her position and end her association with the BJP “with a heavy heart.”
“It has been a matter of great pride and privilege to serve the party. I remain deeply inspired by the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the ideals of nationalism, patriotism and service to the nation that the BJP upholds,” she wrote, adding that those values would continue to guide her.
Annamalai Ends Six-Year BJP Association
The resignations came shortly after K. Annamalai formally resigned from the BJP, bringing weeks of speculation over his political future to an end.
His resignation from the party’s primary membership and organisational responsibilities was accepted by BJP national leadership, concluding his six-year association with the party.
In his resignation letter, Annamalai said he had joined the BJP inspired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership and with a vision to transform Tamil Nadu’s political culture. While expressing gratitude to the party leadership for entrusting him with key responsibilities, he revealed that differences had emerged between him and the central leadership over the past 18 months.
“After my conversations with our senior leadership, I have come to the conclusion that our views do not align regarding Tamil Nadu,” Annamalai wrote.
His departure and the subsequent resignations of senior state leaders are being viewed as a significant development in Tamil Nadu’s political landscape, with attention now focused on the future trajectory of Annamalai’s new political venture.
