Former IPS Officer Annamalai Kuppuswamy Will Join BJP Today

New Delhi: Former IPS officer Annamalai Kuppuswamy will formally join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday at 1 pm in an event in New Delhi ending months of speculation about his foray into politics.

Former IPS officer Annamalai Kuppusamy says he will join BJP today at party headquarters in Delhi.

— ANI (@ANI) August 25, 2020

Annamalai, who served as an IPS officer in Karnataka, and was popularly referred to as ‘Singam’ quit the police force in May 2019. Following his resignation, he was expected to join the BJP but over the last few months, Annamalai said he tussled with the idea of starting independently in politics. “I was considering my options over the last few months but finally I have decided to join the BJP and start my political career,” Annamalai said.

Annamalai said he saw himself as a natural fit in the BJP. “I closely align with the larger vision of the BJP. I will have an opportunity to be in the party and help grow the party in Tamil Nadu,” he said, adding,”I see I am a natural fit there (in BJP).” He was in talks with other parties including Rajinikanth but eventually decided to join the BJP.

He said he did not consider joining the Dravidian parties, which have a duopoly over politics in Tamil Nadu. “I also felt that the Dravidian parties are not true to their original mission of bringing about change. The ideals of Annadurai, Periyar and MGR were different from the ideals of today’s leaders,” he said.

Responding to public discussion over his decision to join the BJP, Annamalai said that unlike the police force, he now has the freedom to express his opinions. “I am reading a lot of discussions online about my ideology based on a few tweets. When I was a police officer, my master was the Constitution of India…I am not going against the Constitution now but unlike in my time in the police force, I have the freedom to express my opinions,” he added.