Annamalai’s Fight: From Whips to Bare Feet, a Bold Protest Against DMK’s Rule and Lawlessness in Tamil Nadu

Chennai: Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai on Thursday pledged a dramatic protest campaign against Chief Minister M.K. Stalin and the ruling DMK, vowing to remove them from power. In an emotional address, Annamalai declared, “I will whip myself six times every day and will not wear footwear until the DMK is defeated.”

The BJP leader's fiery statement came amidst criticism of the DMK-led government following the alleged sexual assault of a college student at Chennai’s Anna University. The incident, which also involved the assault of her male companion, has sparked outrage, with Annamalai accusing the state of failing to ensure women’s safety.

Annamalai announced plans for a personal protest outside his residence beginning Friday, including a 48-day fast while seeking the blessings of Lord Murugan. He emphasized that his actions symbolize his commitment to fighting for justice and law and order in Tamil Nadu.

“Under the DMK, Tamil Nadu has become a breeding ground for unlawful activities. Women no longer feel safe. The police are preoccupied with political silencing rather than protecting citizens,” Annamalai said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

While the BJP and the DMK’s primary rival, AIADMK, criticized the state government, the DMK accused opposition parties of politicizing the incident. The Tamil Nadu police confirmed the arrest of a 37-year-old biryani vendor in connection with the case.

Annamalai’s statements come in the wake of BJP's dismal performance in Tamil Nadu during the April-June Lok Sabha elections, where the party failed to win any of the 39 seats. Annamalai himself lost the Coimbatore seat to DMK’s Ganpathy Rajkumar by a margin of 1.2 lakh votes. Similarly, former Telangana Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan lost Chennai South to DMK’s Thamizhachi Thangapandian by 2.2 lakh votes.

The BJP leader’s latest move highlights the party’s continued effort to make inroads in Tamil Nadu, a state where the DMK-Congress alliance remains dominant.