Chennai
oi-Prakash KL
Actress-turned-politician Gayathri Raghuramm has launched a scathing attack on former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai following his exit from the BJP and his recent revelation involving superstar Rajinikanth.
Taking to X, Gayathri strongly criticised Annamalai’s remarks about Rajinikanth and the BJP leadership. In a sharply-worded post, she accused the former IPS officer of trying to project himself as indispensable to both the actor and the party.
Actress Gayathri Raghuramm criticized K. Annamalai following his exit from the BJP, after he revealed Rajinikanth had invited him to join a party in 2020. Annamalai subsequently launched a new political movement, citing leadership disagreements and Tamil identity concerns.
“What a joker. Belittling superstar Rajinikanth and the BJP leadership, as if they desperately need Annamalai for their growth. What a con man! Annamalai is not a leader; he is merely a bureaucrat and a complete betrayer of Tamil Nadu,” she wrote.
Her comments came shortly after Annamalai released a video detailing a previously unknown chapter of his political journey. The former BJP leader claimed that Rajinikanth had personally invited him to join the political party that the actor was planning to launch in 2020.
According to Annamalai, he had held several discussions with Rajinikanth on politics and governance before making the decision to enter public life. He said the superstar personally called him and expressed interest in having him as part of the proposed political outfit.
However, Annamalai said he declined the offer because he had already committed himself to joining the BJP.
“When I decided to enter politics, Rajini sir invited me to join his party. But I had already given my word to BJP leaders. I did not want to break that promise, so I joined the BJP,” Annamalai said.
He further revealed that he later met Rajinikanth and apologised for turning down the invitation. Stressing that he continues to admire the actor, Annamalai said he holds immense respect for the superstar and has always valued his views on public affairs.
Reflecting on Rajinikanth’s decision to stay away from politics, Annamalai remarked that Tamil Nadu could have benefited from the actor’s entry into public life. At the same time, he acknowledged that Rajinikanth’s health concerns during the Covid-19 pandemic justified his decision to step back from launching a political party.
The controversy erupted on the same day Annamalai formally announced his departure from the BJP after six years with the party. Declaring that he had exited the saffron party in a “dignified manner”, he unveiled a new political movement aimed at reshaping Tamil Nadu’s political landscape.
“From today onwards, a new path, a new movement and a new political journey begins. Our movement will have a new dimension and a new perspective,” he said.
Annamalai stated that the immediate focus of the movement would be to organise and participate in upcoming parliamentary elections in Tamil Nadu. He added that the organisation would eventually evolve into a registered political party and contest all constituencies in the 2031 Assembly elections.
Explaining his exit from the BJP, Annamalai said the decision had been under consideration for over a year. He claimed to have had significant disagreements with the party’s central leadership on alliance politics and the autonomy of the Tamil Nadu unit.
He also spoke about what he described as a long-standing internal conflict during his tenure as state president.
“It was often a conflict between being a BJP member and being a Tamilian. I always wanted the party to align more closely with Tamil Nadu’s identity and aspirations,” he said.
Positioning his new movement as an alternative to existing political parties, Annamalai argued that the state’s political culture requires a fresh approach.
“Our goals are bigger. More people must be brought into the process. We will change ourselves, and we will bring change,” he declared.
With Gayathri Raghuramm’s criticism adding fuel to the debate, Annamalai’s dramatic exit from the BJP and his plans for a new political movement have already triggered intense discussions within Tamil Nadu’s political circles.
