The Tamil Nadu BJP president, K Annamalai, the 38-year-old ex-IPS officer, created ripples last week by making a strong pitch against “corruption and deception of political system” and the “cycle of voters’ bribery” in elections in the state. Annamalai created a stir by holding that the AIADMK was also under cloud in this regard, even as he urged the BJP to sever its ties with its key Dravidian ally ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, claiming that he will step down and work as an ordinary karyakarta (worker) if the party central leadership forces him to be a part of such an alliance. Annamalai stressed on the need for the BJP to contest the elections without the support of any Dravidian party in order to “combat corruption and nepotism and promote good governance”, even charging that the saffron party’s alliance with the AIADMK was tantamount to indulging in corruption and voters’ bribery. Not surprisingly, his remarks not only startled state political circles, but also embarrassed his own party camp, although there has not been any official reaction from any party on his remarks so far. Annamalai might be railing against the BJP’s alliance with the AIADMK for some time, but it is evident that for his party leadership it is crucial to ensure its continuance for the high-stakes 2024 polls. Tamil Nadu accounts for 39 Lok Sabha seats and the ruling DMK is a key ally of the Congress party. Known for being abrasive and volatile, Annamalai has repeatedly sought to claim a high moral ground while going after every major political player in Tamil Nadu. He said he did not resign from the IPS to join politics to commit corruption or bribe voters. He charged that like the ruling party the Opposition also bribes voters in the state, although their scales may be different. Annamalai has also maintained that if his leadership endorses his line seeking clean politics without forming alliances with “corrupt parties”, the people would trust the BJP and support it in various elections in the state. Interestingly, it was only last month that Annamalai campaigned for the candidate of the Edappadi K Palaniswami-led AIADMK in the Erode East bypoll, which was clinched by the Congress. While conceding that Annamalai's remarks on political corruption are not wrong, a senior RSS leader questioned the campaign expenses incurred on his own election in the Aravakurichi Assembly constituency in 2021 that he lost. He also said that if the BJP leadership takes into account the significance of an alliance with the AIADMK for the Lok Sabha polls, it would “not listen to Annamalai”. Last week, Annamalai alleged that "it costs between Rs 80 and Rs 120 crore to participate in a Lok Sabha election in Tamil Nadu," claiming that "I don't want to be in politics if I can only do so by changing myself and sacrificing my values”. His comments have however raised the hackles of many BJP leaders in the state. Asking how could Annamalai “serve as the state BJP chief while demeaning the entire party and all politicians”, a senior BJP leader said, "I am hopeful that our Delhi leadership will address this issue soon. I've been told that a senior party leader will be visiting Tamil Nadu soon.” According to a district BJP chief, Annamalai had last month set a “target of Rs 2 crore party fund to be raised by each district unit”. It was however not met, which “upset” him, he said. A top source claimed that Annamalai's decision to leave the IPS was “originally not meant to join the BJP, but to join mega film star Rajinikanth's proposed political party that did not fructify”. The source said, “A Tamilian, an ex-IPS officer, an ambitious youth, and a relatively honest image — all worked in Annamalai's favour. These plans were also known to the BJP. The Covid pandemic however derailed these plans: Rajinikanth decided to abandon his political party plan, and Annamalai eventually joined the BJP.” The source also said: “Annamalai now realises that politics is tough. Not only Tamil Nadu, but also Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Karnataka — everywhere there is corruption and voters’ bribery. Annamalai’s words were true but there is a huge mismatch between what he said and what he continues to do, especially since he is BJP co in-charge of its Assembly poll campaign in party-ruled Karnataka, where the situation is no different.” With a section of the BJP and the RSS getting baffled by Annamalai’s stance, a district party president asked: "If it had been any other leader, he would have been summoned to Delhi by now. Even after several days, nothing has happened here. What does it mean?" Annamalai is widely seen as enjoying the backing of BJP national general secretary (organisation) B L Santhosh, who is credited with getting him inducted into the saffron party fold. However, his bid to up the ante might have put the BJP leadership in a spot. Some state party leaders close to him say it is “unlikely” that he will resign as the state unit chief if the leadership pushes for a continuance of their alliance with the AIADMK. They also rule out Annamalai forming a new party or embarking on any other course with the BJP being in power in Delhi. “Annamalai only proposed the idea of clean politics, which the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) tried successfully in Delhi and Punjab," a leader close to him said. "If he is to resign, he can be appointed as the party in-charge of Karnataka… Or he can be rehabilitated with a Rajya Sabha seat or a Union minister’s post,” said another leader. Meanwhile, all eyes in state political circles would be on Annamalai’s future moves, especially with regard to the alliance front.
