‘Views don’t align on Tamil Nadu’: Annamalai says it's time to step out of BJP; full text of letter

Annamalai resignation: In his letter to BJP National President Nitin Nabin, Annamalai said that national parties never spoke the language that people in Tamil Nadu understood. He said he doesn’t want to burden the top leadership regarding his thoughts on Tamil Nadu, and that he realises that their views do not align when it comes to Tamil Nadu. 

Here is the full text of the letter Annamalai sent to Nitin Nabin: 

Vanakkam, 

Inspired by the leadership of our Honourable Prime Minister, Thiru Narendra Modi avi, I joined the Bharatiya Janata Party six years ago, seeking to bring positive change to Tamil Nadu and improve how politics is conducted in the state. Most importantly, I wanted to change the notion that politics is a path only for the elite and a select few, not for the common man. I'm extremely thankful to the BJP leadership for trusting a very young and raw me with great responsibility and leadership positions.

The people of the state were fatigued by the general political discourse for many decades and yearned for change. The change came in at multiple points in the past decade, but they could not hold their ground and quickly faded from people's memories. National Parties never spoke the language that people in Tamil Nadu understood. I have tried to change this belief and also found reasonable success despite multiple roadblocks, barriers and obstructions from both inside and outside.

As a nationalist deeply rooted in regional aspirations, I take immense pride in the richness of my language, the diversity of my culture and the unique heritage of my region. I firmly believe that a strong and united India is built upon the strength, dignity and aspirations of its many regions and communities. I thank the senior leadership of the Bharatiya Janata Party for your unwavering support for the causes and concerns I have consistently brought to their attention from time to time.

At this point, I would recall the multiple conversations with the top leadership and the disagreements I have expressed over the last 18 months. I do not want to burden the top leadership any further with my ongoing thoughts on the way forward for a growth-oriented and culturally rooted politics in Tamil Nadu.

After my conversations with our senior leadership, I have come to the conclusion that our views don't align regarding Tamil Nadu.

After much thought, I believe the time has come for me to step out of the party, reflect on the actual purpose of my entering politics, and sail where the winds take me in the future. I humbly request that I be relieved of my organisational responsibilities with immediate effect, and that my resignation from the primary membership of the BJP be accepted with immediate effect.

Thank you!
Yours sincerely, 
K Annamalai

K Annamalai said he would start a movement that would eventually turn into a political party. He said he would contest the Tamil Nadu polls, and that there is a need for political parties to come out of ‘cult politics’. 

In a video message he said that politics does not belong to a family, and that they would break the concept of permanent leaders, MPs and MLAs.

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