Annamalai rules out floating new party, says he may quit BJP if ‘Conscience’ disagrees
Annamalai rules out floating new party, says he may quit BJP if ‘Conscience’ disagrees
Coimbatore: Former Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president K. Annamalai on October 31 dismissed reports that he may launch a new political outfit but admitted he was torn about his current position within the BJP.
Speaking to reporters in Coimbatore, Annamalai said he would remain in the party only as long as he felt aligned with its values. “I will stay if I like, or I will quit if I don’t and continue farming. No one can make a person stay in a party with a gun on his head. Politics is a voluntary mechanism and we are in it, spending our own money,” he said.
Annamalai, who joined the BJP after resigning from the Indian Police Service (IPS), said his faith in Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah was the main reason for his entry into politics. “I joined the BJP and continue to remain in it with the confidence that Prime Minister Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah will bring pure politics to the state. Otherwise, there was no reason for me to quit my job and become a party worker,” he said.
Addressing speculation that he might float a new party, Annamalai said, “I am a first-generation politician from an agricultural family without any political backing. How can I start a new party? I know my limits.”
However, he added that his political journey had not been without moral dilemmas. “Sometimes I find myself speaking against my conscience because I’m asked to. Still, there are some things one cannot tolerate. Let’s wait and see. Good things will happen,” he remarked.
Annamalai also said that while several AIADMK leaders continued to make personal attacks against him, he had chosen restraint. “I am keeping quiet because of the word I gave to Amit Shah. It would take me two minutes to respond, but everyone has a Lakshman Rekha. When the time comes, I will talk,” he said.
When asked about the recent expulsion of senior AIADMK leader K.A. Sengottaiyan, Annamalai said, “We saw several political developments at the Pasumpon Muthuramalinga Thevar guru pooja on Thursday. I am also waiting and watching as a Karyakarta of the BJP.”
He stressed that all BJP workers shared a common goal, ensuring the National Democratic Alliance’s (NDA) victory in the upcoming Assembly elections.
Sengottaiyan was expelled from the AIADMK on October 31, a day after he met with other former senior leaders including O. Panneerselvam, T.T.V. Dhinakaran and V.K. Sasikala at a function commemorating freedom fighter Muthuramalinga Thevar at Pasumpon.
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CSK's Ayush Mhatre ruled out of remainder of IPL 2026 due to hamstring injury
New Delhi (PTI): Chennai Super Kings batter Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out of the remainder of the ongoing IPL season due to a hamstring injury, dealing a major blow to the five-time champions.
The franchise said Mhatre, who sustained the injury during CSK’s previous game against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18, will require a rehabilitation period of six to 12 weeks.
"Ayush Mhatre has been ruled out of the remainder of IPL 2026 due to a left hamstring injury sustained while batting during the match against Sunrisers Hyderabad on April 18.
"Ayush's injury will require a rehabilitation period of 6-12 weeks," CSK announced on its social media on Tuesday.
The 18-year-old, who came in as an impact substitute, was seen in visible discomfort and clutched his hamstring while attempting a run during CSK’s 10-run loss to SRH in Hyderabad.
He required on-field treatment and, although he continued briefly, was dismissed soon after.
"It looks pretty bad, unfortunately. And he's going to be a big, big loss because he's been in really nice touch for us," CSK's batting coach Mike Hussey had said at the post-match press conference.
Mhatre has been CSK's standout batter this season. He lea collecting 201 runs from six matches at a strike-rate of 177.87.
Chennai Super Kings have endured a poor start to the 2026 season, losing four of their six matches to languish in eighth place.
