The separation is official. K Annamalai, BJP's most recognisable face in Tamil Nadu, has quit BJP, ending days of suspense. 

"The National President of the Bharatiya Janata Party, Hon'ble Shri Nitin Nabin, has accepted the resignation submitted by the Tamil Nadu Ex. State President, Shri K. Annamalai from the primary membership of the Party," the BJP said in a statement today.

The development comes just hours before Annamalai, the former Tamil Nadu BJP chief, was to hold an "open, heart-to-heart conversation" with the public on social media at noon.

The 41-year-old leader flew down to Delhi, met party chief Nitin Nabin on Tuesday and said he wants to end the partnership on "cordial terms". A meeting with Amit Shah and BL Santhosh, the man credited with spotting the talent in Annamalai, followed.

The party asked him to wait.Backroom negotiations followed. Tamil Nadu BJP chief Nainar Nagendran, who succeeded Annamalai, was called to Delhi on Thursday. Another round of talks began.

The resignation was finally accepted today.The Tamil Nadu BJP chief appeared confident, declaring that Annamalai's resignation is "no loss" for the party.

"There is no loss for the BJP. The BJP is a big party in the world," the state BJP chief said when asked about the resignation. 

Andhra Pradesh BJP chief's stance was slightly nuanced: he hoped that Annamalai would come back to the party at some stage in future. 

Source:Ndtv