Annamalai to quit BJP, launch ‘truly secular’ regional party

Chennai: Former Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai will quit the party in a couple of days and launch a “secular, regional party — even Dravidian in a redefined way — with a national outlook”, sources told TOI. He is expected to launch the party “in six to eight months”.Annamalai will meet Union home minister Amit Shah, party national president Nitin Nabin and general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh in Delhi on Tuesday to “explain the reasons for his leaving”. Annamalai’s confidantes said he wanted the new party to oppose BJP — and other parties — based on issues. “If putting TN first is Dravidianism, he calls it Dravidian 2.0 which will function within the Indian framework. He wants to take everyone including minor communities — outside and inside Hindus — along, and have Tamil pride without being chauvinistic,” said a source.Annamalai has had disagreements with the BJP leadership over the past 18 months over its alliance with AIADMK and later candidate selection for the recent assembly election.While he wanted the party to build itself from the base, even if it took long, the national leadership chose to piggyback on AIADMK with the sole objective of defeating DMK.Annamalai thinks actor Vijay’s success on political debut has created a “fracture that has opened space for new forces” and marked “the end of a 60-year Dravidian cycle”, as a source put it. “Like before, TN politics will have two poles in the 2031 assembly polls,” said the source. “Annamalai wants to be the second pole.”The former IPS officer shared his thought process with confidantes thus: “Vijay gave hope to youngsters that they can succeed in politics without money power or caste considerations. But when many of them, including technocrats from abroad, went to TVK, they found the old fans’ association people blocking the door. This is where we can open the doors. In two years, we can prove to be a force to reckon with.” He is also confident of getting some veteran politicians from other parties. “Many have been staying away because he is with BJP. Once he floats a new party, they will join him,” said a source.His associates said moves are afoot to register the new party or acquire a name already registered by someone. “This can be done in Annamalai’s name only once he quits BJP,” said the source. Meanwhile, there is a possibility of a “social organisation” being launched as a prelude to the founding of the political party, said another source.Last Tuesday, Annamalai criticized the Union govt’s decision to implement the three-language formula for CBSE Class IX students starting July 1. The sudden announcement has caused great shock to parents, especially those of students in Tamil Nadu, he posted on social media.