Gujarat-centric Delhi model of development has to change: Annamalai jabs BJP

K Annamalai said the BJP must move away from Delhi-centric decisions and a Gujarat-focused development model. He also called for more power to state leaders and asked for space to be given to Chief Minister Vijay.Annamalai said the BJP's decision-making had become increasingly “Delhi-centric” and called for greater empowerment of state-level leaders.K Annamalai, former Tamil Nadu BJP president and founder of the We The Leaders movement, criticised what he described as a Gujarat-centric approach to development, arguing that major investments, technology projects and national events cannot all be concentrated in one state.Speaking at the India Today Tamil Nadu Round Table, Annamalai also said the BJP's decision-making had become increasingly “Delhi-centric” and called for greater empowerment of state-level leaders.“I believe the decisions of the BJP are becoming Delhi-centric, so it is very unfortunate. That has to change,” Annamalai said.He said state-level leaders should be given greater authority to take decisions and act on them. “Genuinely, they have to empower state-level leaders to make actions. It has to happen,” he said.Annamalai then took aim at what he called the “Gujarat-centric model of Delhi development”, questioning the concentration of major investments and national events in Gujarat. “And the Gujarat-centric model of Delhi development has to change a bit,” he said.“You can't have all the AI companies going there or wafer companies going there, 2030 Commonwealth Games going there, 2030 police games going there, 2036 Olympic Games going to Ahmedabad. You cannot have this Gujarat model of all-India development.”He said the concentration of opportunities in one state could not be the model for India's development.“That has to change. People are watching,” Annamalai said.His criticism comes as states compete to attract investments in emerging sectors such as artificial intelligence and semiconductor manufacturing, while also seeking major sporting and international events.For Annamalai, the issue is also about how the BJP's national leadership takes decisions and how much say state-level leaders have in shaping the party's approach.Later in the discussion, Annamalai spoke about Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay and said the new government should be given time to establish itself.He said he had seen a “fresh breath” in the first 100 days of the government and believed it was genuinely committed to fighting corruption.“Mr Vijay is in a very, very tough position. It is not easy to be a CM in Tamil Nadu at this point in time, when the forces are against you,” Annamalai said.He said Vijay should be given at least a year to govern.“One year we have to give him space. It is our duty to give him the space, duty to help him carry on his vision,” he said.Annamalai added that Vijay currently had his support.“As of now Vijay has my support because I am doing what a genuine Tamilian should do,” he said.- EndsPublished By: Koustav DasPublished On: Aug 17, 2026 12:49 IST