Annamalai’s movement does not have blessings of Modi, Shah: Nagenthran

Chennai: BJP state president Nainar Nagenthran on Saturday dismissed a narrative that the movement launched by former party president K Annamalai was strategically sanctioned by the high command as a form of political ‘brainwashing’.

“I want to state categorically to our party cadre that neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union home minister Amit Shah, nor any other national leader has extended any blessings or endorsement to this new movement,” said Nagenthran.

He said no worker should be misled into believing they can stay within the BJP while simultaneously operating inside this new movement. “You can only be a member of the BJP. We do not permit parallel alignments with outside organisations,” Nagenthran asserted while speaking to reporters in Chennai.

“BJP is an institution built on a massive collective framework and a deep-rooted nationalistic ideology, rather than any single individual. The exit of one or two figures will cause absolutely no setback to our political momentum,” he said.

When questioned about potential disciplinary action against those who defected, he said, “If they choose to return to the party fold, no action will be taken against them. They will be welcomed back.”

Nagenthran dismissed claims of internal rift, and denied reports that Annamalai chose to exit due to a lack of cooperation from state seniors over the last 18 months.