One CM (Vijay) can't change everything: Annamalai's only political message on Tamil Nadu

In his 23-minute speech on Friday, the first after resigning from the primary membership of the BJP, K Annamalai had just one message to do with the current political situation in Tamil Nadu. While Annamalai laid out his plans for a political movement which would culminate into a party, the former Tamil Nadu BJP President, without naming C Joseph Vijay, said that a single chief minister cannot change everything that people of the state were hoping for.

"One Chief Minister cannot change Tamil Nadu," said Annamalai. He was making this statement, referring to the people of Tamil Nadu's hope that Vijay could change everything in the state. "Neither can the 234 MLAs nor 39 MPs change Tamil Nadu's situation," he added.

Vijay, who left a successful acting career to join politics, was sworn in as the chief minister of Tamil Nadu in May. His TVK, in its electoral debut, emerged as the single-biggest party in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections.

Annamalai's remarks came as he detailed his plan to change the system of Tamil Nadu, and asked people to join his movement.

"We need to change people from panchayat members to councillors to mayors and right up to the top. We have to change the entire set of people. We have to build common-man politics, and not cult politics," he said.

Annamalai said that he wanted the political system to be sanitised and to introduce people who are clean and clear. "We need to change everything to bring clean politics. We need to bring in honest, capable, and efficient people who can complete tasks and finish projects," the IPS officer-turned politician asserted.

The political movement launched by Annamalai hit over 1 million (10 lakh) members in just 10 hours of its inception.

"Our political movement has achieved a milestone, with over 10 lakh leaders registering within just 10 hours. This extraordinary response is a powerful reflection of the growing belief in our shared vision and collective mission," Annamalai posted on X on Friday.

"I extend my heartfelt gratitude to every individual who has placed their trust in this movement," he added.

NO PERMANENT MLAs OR MPs IN HIS PARTY, SAYS ANNAMALAI

Annamalai, after quitting the BJP, said that he was launching a new political movement that is not associated with any political party. He said that the movement would be named "We The Leader", and would function under the APJ Abdul Kalam Centre for Ethics and Politics, a training and research institution established by him in Coimbatore. Annamalai also added that the political movement would eventually become a political party and would contest the 2031 Assembly election, and all of its functionaries would be trained in the centre before they contest in any election.

"The day I announce my political party, it'll come with a set of rules. There will be term limits for holding office. No permanent leaders, no permanent MLAs, no permanent MPs, and no permanent ministers, he said.

"We have to break this chain of continuity, and new people should keep entering politics," he added.

Annamalai argued that politics had become "stagnant in the state, and it should be changed". He also said that his movement should be "above him and beyond everyone working with him".

ANNAMALAI's MESSAGE OF EQUAL TREATMENT TO THE BJP

In another political message that didn't have to do directly with Tamil Nadu, the former IPS officer, who was popularly known as the "Singham" of Karnataka Police, said that he would continue to respect Prime Minister Narendra Modi and still choose to disagree with him on certain issues with courage.

He also revealed that he chose to meet Union Minister Amit Shah to convey his decision "eye to eye". Annamalai also maintained that he has "no enmity with the BJP" and that he would look at the BJP just like how he saw other parties, such as the DMK, AIADMK, and others.

Annamalai advocated that there was indeed space for a new political party in Tamil Nadu. "We will have to come out of cult politics. This will be common man politics, there will be no compromise on principle," he said.

Annamalai, during the 2024 General elections, had made the same remark in an interview with India Today TV. He contended that there is a political vacuum as the DMK and the AIADMK lost their icons, M Karunanidhi and J Jayalalithaa, respectively.

ANNAMALAI's FIRST POLITICAL INTERNSHIP AND HOW HE JOINED BJP

Annamalai also revealed his first political experience through an internship in the DMDK's campaign, and later also mentioned how his joining the BJP in 2020, because of a promise to the party's national general secretary BL Santhosh, made him apologise to Rajinikanth.

"I attended a three-month internship with the late DMDK founder Vijayakanth in 2009 while pursuing his MBA at IIM Lucknow. I had to secure special permission from the institute, and worked directly under Vijayakanth during the Lok Sabha election campaign," he said.

"The intership marked the beginning of my 17-year journey in grassroots engagement and public service, and was the first exposure to politics and political organisation," he added.

"Rajinikanth called me to discuss his plans before I joined the BJP. In front of me, there were three choices. What was good for Tamil Nadu? What was good for the film superstar himself? At that time, he could stay out of politics, given the Covid-19 pandemic. What was good for Annamalai? That was to join the BJP as I had given my word to BL Santosh (then BJP president). So I went and joined the BJP. I also apologised to Rajinikath. I have immense respect for him," Annamalai revealed.

As Annamalai is set to embark on his new political journey, the vision seems to be refreshing for Tamil Nadu politics. As Annamalai claims, the system cannot be changed with one CM or with all the MLAs or MPs. Will he, with his "We the Leader" movement, bring any change to Tamil Nadu's political system is time to answer.