Is Annamalai Quitting BJP? PM Modi's Gesture In Coimbatore Shoots Down Rumours

A picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi patting former Tamil Nadu BJP chief K. Annamalai on the back has effectively dispelled social media rumours suggesting Annamalai was considering leaving the party.

The interaction occurred at the Coimbatore airport on Wednesday, where Annamalai welcomed the Prime Minister upon his arrival in the city. The image, which has since gone viral, was widely interpreted as a public show of support from the party's top leadership, putting an end to speculation that had been circulating since Annamalai's recent resignation from the state president post.

Sharing the photos, K Annamalai, in a post on X, wrote: "Delighted to welcome our beloved PM Thiru @narendramodi avl on his arrival in Coimbatore today to take part in the South India Natural Farming Summit. #VanakkamModi."

PM Modi was in Tamil Nadu to inaugurate the South India Natural Farming Summit. During the event, he released the 21st instalment of the PM-KISAN scheme, amounting to ₹18,000 crore for approximately nine crore farmers across the nation.

Earlier in the day, the Prime Minister visited Puttaparthi in Andhra Pradesh. There, he offered prayers at the holy shrine of Sri Sathya Sai Baba and participated in the spiritual leader's centenary celebrations. As part of the event, PM Modi released a commemorative coin and a set of postage stamps honouring the life and legacy of Sri Sathya Sai Baba.