Former BJP Tamil Nadu chief K Annamalai on Friday launched a new political movement against state’s cult politics. Announcing his exit from the BJP, the senior leader advised the people to move away from cult politics culture and create space for greater public participation in governance.
Announcing the formation of Annamalai Makkal Iyakkam (AMI), the former IPS officer said the movement would eventually evolve into a political party and contest future elections in Tamil Nadu. The core message behind the formation of AMI was not merely about forming a new political outfit but an attempt to challenge the culture of personality-driven politics.
“Politics does not belong to a family. We need to come out of cult politics and bring common man politics,” Annamalai said while outlining the vision of his movement.
Briefing about the objectives of AMI, Annamalai repeatedly emphasised the phrase common man politics and said the movement’s goal would be to encourage first-generation political entrants and attract younger people interested in public service. The leader also urged aspiring political workers to join the movement and contribute to shaping its future direction.
Annamalai’s decision to launch a separate movement comes after his resignation from the BJP, where he cited differences over political strategy in Tamil Nadu. For now, the former BJP leader appears determined to build his next political chapter around a single proposition: that Tamil Nadu needs politics driven by people rather than personalities.