K. Annamalai, a prominent figure and former Tamil Nadu BJP president, is reportedly preparing to tender his resignation from the Bharatiya Janata Party this Friday. Sources indicate that the anticipated departure stems from a fallout with the party leadership regarding its reliance on the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK) ahead of the crucial 2026 Assembly elections. Annamalai had gained significant recognition for his aggressive anti-DMK stance and extensive grassroots political campaigns in the state.
Notable Departures: A History of High-Profile Exits from the BJP
Annamalai's potential exit draws attention to a history of influential leaders who have previously left the BJP, often causing significant political shifts. Here's a look at some of the most prominent:
B.S. Yediyurappa
A formidable Lingayat leader, B.S. Yediyurappa left the BJP in 2012 after being compelled to resign as Karnataka Chief Minister amid corruption allegations. He subsequently formed the Karnataka Janata Paksha (KJP), which notably eroded the BJP's vote share in the 2023 assembly elections. Recognizing his considerable influence, the BJP central leadership facilitated his return in 2014, with the KJP merging back into the saffron party before the Lok Sabha elections that same year.
Uma Bharti
Former Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Uma Bharti was expelled from the party in 2005 for alleged indiscipline. Her relationship with the BJP deteriorated due to disagreements with senior leaders and her public criticism of the party's top brass, including L.K. Advani. In 2006, she launched the Bharatiya Janshakti Party, aiming to establish a Hindutva-aligned alternative, but achieved limited success. She formally rejoined the BJP in 2011, merging her party and taking on the task of revitalizing the BJP in Uttar Pradesh.
Kalyan Singh
Kalyan Singh, a former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh who resigned after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992, later quit the BJP over ideological differences with the central leadership. He went on to form the Rashtriya Kranti Party before eventually returning to the BJP. After his return, Singh served as the Governor of Rajasthan from 2014 to 2019.
Jaswant Singh
A founding member of the Bharatiya Janata Party and a former Union Minister, Jaswant Singh was expelled in 2009 following controversial remarks in his book about Muhammad Ali Jinnah. Although briefly reinstated in 2010, Singh definitively left the party in 2014 after being denied an election ticket from his home constituency of Barmer.
Babulal Marandi
As Jharkhand's first Chief Minister and a prominent tribal face of the saffron party, Babulal Marandi departed from the BJP in 2006, citing disillusionment with internal politics and specific leadership decisions concerning the tribal state. He subsequently founded the Jharkhand Vikas Morcha (JVM) as a regional force. After the JVM struggled to become the dominant political entity in Jharkhand, Marandi merged it with the BJP, becoming a key leader and heading the state unit.
Shankersinh Vaghela
One of Gujarat's most influential BJP leaders in the 1990s, Shankersinh Vaghela felt marginalized when the party leadership favored Keshubhai Patel for the Chief Minister post after the 1995 elections. He led a significant revolt involving numerous MLAs and quit the BJP in 1996. Vaghela then brought down the Keshubhai Patel-led government and formed the Rashtriya Janata Party, becoming Gujarat's Chief Minister with Congress support by merging his party with them. He remained with the Congress for two decades and never returned to the BJP.
Babul Supriyo
Babul Supriyo left the BJP in 2021 after being removed as Minister of State during a cabinet reshuffle. He also felt marginalized within the party following its defeat in the 2021 West Bengal assembly polls and had disagreements with the state leadership and strategy. Despite initially announcing his retirement from politics, Supriyo joined the Trinamool Congress (TMC), stating it offered him a "new avenue" to continue public service rather than becoming "retired hurt" from politics.