It's not just Annamalai. Another BJP leader leader exits party in Tamil Nadu ‘after careful thought’

The Tamil Nadu unit of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) faces another significant blow as state secretary Sumathi Venkatesh announced her resignation on Friday. This latest exit follows closely on the heels of other high-profile departures, including former state chief K. Annamalai and state vice president Karu Nagarajan, intensifying the party's leadership crisis in the region.

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With a heavy heart, I have decided to step down from my responsibilities as State Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Tamil Nadu, and conclude my association with the party.

Venkatesh stated in her resignation letter, posted on her X handle, that her decision was made "after careful thought" and expressed gratitude to party leaders and members for their support. Her departure, like those before her, raises questions about the internal dynamics and future direction of the BJP in Tamil Nadu.

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This decision has come after careful thought and is not without sadness. I am sincerely grateful to all party leaders, office bearers, and karyakartas at both the national and state levels for their guidance, support, and encouragement during my tenure.

Earlier, K. Annamalai, who led the state BJP from July 2021 to April 2025, cited differences in views regarding Tamil Nadu as the reason for his exit. He had joined the party six years prior with the aim of bringing positive change and reforming political conduct in the state, seeking to make politics accessible to the common man. Annamalai noted that while national parties often failed to resonate with the people of Tamil Nadu, he had found "reasonable success" in bridging this gap despite facing numerous obstacles.

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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 am extremely thankful to the BJP leadership for trusting a very young and raw man with great responsibility and leadership positions.

Reacting to the resignations, Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran sought to downplay their impact. He asserted that the BJP is an ideology-based party and that individual departures would not affect its electoral performance. Nagendran dismissed allegations that state-level rights are not being prioritized, emphasizing the party's foundational principles and the freedom of individuals to form new political parties in a democracy.

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The BJP is not a party that was formed recently. It is an ideology-based party, and there will certainly be no impact from this development. Anyone is free to start a political party. In a democracy, everyone has that right. Annamalai's resignation from the BJP will not have any impact on the party.