Though Annamalai had been critical of BJP’s Tamil Nadu leadership and also of the party’s key ally in the State, the AIADMK, he never worked against the interest of his party or the coalition.
Chennai: Speculations over former State BJP president K Annamalai launching a new party flew thick and fast in the State political horizon as he arrived at the Chennai airport to board a flight to New Delhi in a car without the usual BJP flag fluttering on the bonnet and told newspersons that he would reveal his future political plans in two days.
Sources close to the young BJP leader, who has admirers among the youth in view of his distinction as a former police officer, said that Annamalai was peeved over the State unit of the party neglecting him completely after he was removed from the party post and might break free from the Party and go on his own.
Though he kept away from active politics after he was sidelined and avoided campaigning in the Assembly elections, he jumped into the fray later on and canvassed for his party candidates, reportedly at the behest of national leaders of the BJP, particularly Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
It was that direct link with the national leadership that was taking him to New Delhi now as he would like to apprise national president Nitin Nabin about his grouses before bidding adieu, revealed sources close to Annamalai, who is conscious of his popularity among the younger generation and would like to capitalize on it.
Though Annamalai had been critical of BJP’s Tamil Nadu leadership and also of the party’s key ally in the State, the AIADMK, he never worked against the interest of his party or the coalition. Sources close to him said that was waiting to be rehabilitated after he was asked to step down from the State leadership but since that was not happening he wanted to move on.
While the national leadership of the BJP feels that he would be of use to the party in many ways, some State leaders see him as a thorn in the flesh. Also the AIADMK, particularly its general secretary Edappadi K Palaniswami, does not see him as one who would bring votes to the NDA in the State though he is a youth icon.
Whether his breaking away from the BJP and launching a new party in the State would benefit him politically or not– in the context of the youth brigade rallying around Tamilaga Vetri Kazhagam founder and Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay – it would be a definite loss to the State BJP. So it needs to be seen if Annmalai would like to leave the BJP after returning from New Delhi.
