Tamil Nadu: K Annamalai resigned from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday, June 5, and within minutes, announced the launch of his political movement. The initiative drew a massive public response, recording over 14 lakh registrations within its first 24 hours.

Annamalai Quits BJP

The split had been building for weeks. Former Tamil Nadu BJP President resigned from the party on Friday, and party chief Nitin Nabin later accepted his resignation.

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In his resignation letter, the former Indian police Service (IPS) officer said, "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."

Annamalai left the civil services and joined the party in 2020. Within weeks of joining the party, he was appointed the state vice-president, and just a year later, at the age of 37, he was named the state unit chief.

'A Common Man Entering Politics Is a Big Thing'

He described the move as the 'next phase of his public life and political journey', calling on youth and common people to join him.

Annamalai said, "A common man entering politics is a big thing." He called for a people-centred political system and an end to what he called the culture of permanent MLAs and MPs. "We want to take politics to the people," he said.

"Patience and perseverance will be needed to take the movement forward step by step. Our goals are now much bigger. We need a politics that can bring about real change. We are building a politics of change and laying the foundation for generations to come," he added.

14 Lakh Sign-Ups Within 24 Hours

The response to his call to action was swift. The movement's newly launched website, titled "We The Leaders," already showed 14,84,112 active members at the time of writing.

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"Volunteers are the lifeblood of our movement -- empowering communities, developing leadership, and driving real change at the grassroots level. Whether it's education, health, environment, or youth leadership -- find opportunities in your passion. Start with a small local initiative and join us in making tomorrow a better day," the website's message reads.