New Delhi:

Tamilisai Soundararajan, the BJP’s South Chennai candidate, faces a huge electoral battle in this Lok Sabha constituency that has been a stronghold of the ruling DMK, at present represented by Tamilachi Thangapandian. She also faces AIADMK’s J Jayavardhan, hence making this year’s contest a triangular one with all three leaders popular among large sections of voters.

“I am confident I can lead this constituency,” Ms Soundararajan told NDTV in an interview. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving her an opportunity to fight from South Chennai.

“People want change. I want to create good infrastructure in South Chennai. I have been a voter for decades from here. I know each and every nook and corner in this constituency,” said Ms Soundararajan, who is also a doctor.

She said she had given up governorship to serve the people directly.

Being a doctor, on what medicine she would give to South Chennai, Ms Soundararajan said, “The constituency is full of rubbish and dumping yards. The immunity of the constituency needs to be improved. And then look into transport, cleanliness, mosquito menace, no infrastructure…”

“I need to diagnose the disease first,” she added.

Ms Soundararajan task won’t be easy. Winning in Tamil Nadu has been historically a task that’s nearly impossible for the BJP. Ms Soundararajan, however, said she is confident she can change that.

The BJP’s alliance with the Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) gives it an opening, as the PMK has electoral heft in the northern region of Tamil Nadu where the Vanniyars, who belong to the Most Backward Classes (MBCs), are key in deciding the fate of candidates in a number of constituencies.

Ms Soundararajan said the key to winning in Tamil Nadu is to ensure people understand the alignment of national and state interests.

The South Chennai constituency will vote in the first phase on April 19.

Chennai:

Former Telangana Governor, Tamilisai Soundararjan today rejoined the BJP in the presence of Tamil Nadu BJP President K Annamalai.

Annamalai, referring to “criticism against Tamilisai Soundararajan by Left parties and the DMK” for joining the BJP after holding the office of Governor, said persons holding exalted posts quitting office to start working again for the public as an ordinary person is possible only in the BJP.

A person belonging to a political party other than the BJP will not quit high offices. For them, being in politics is meant only to assume top positions.

She functioned very well as Governor. Quitting that position and joining politics again shows Soundararajan’s love for the people.

Her joining the BJP again shows her commitment to the party; her determination that her work should also contribute to strengthening the hands of Prime Minister Narendra Modi when he assumes office for a third time in a row.

Ms Soundararajan resigned from the BJP before assuming the office of Governor of Telangana in 2019. She was appointed Lt Governor of Puducherry in 2021.

Sixty-two year old Tamilisai Soundararjan is a gynaecologist and she joined the BJP over two decades ago.
 

(This story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Telangana Governor and Puducherry Lieutenant-Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan resigned from both posts Monday morning. Sources told NDTV Ms Soundararajan – the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Tamil Nadu unit before her governorship – is expected to contest the 2024 Lok Sabha election.

Ms Soundararajan, 62, was sworn in as the then-fledgling Telangana state’s second Governor in November 2019, and was given additional charge as Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry in February 2021. She is likely to contest Puducherry’s lone Lok Sabha seat, which is held by the Congress.

Sources said the BJP feels Ms Soundararajan may have greater connect with the people of Puducherry. There is also speculation she might be fielded from one of three seats in Tamil Nadu, including the Thoothukudi seat held by the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam’s Kanimozhi.

Ms Soundararajan contested the 2019 election from this seat but was handily beaten. She also contested the Chennai (North) seat in 2009 and lost that as well; to TKS Elangovan of the DMK.

She also contested the Tamil Nadu Assembly thrice – from Radhapuram in 2006, Velachery in 2011, and Virugampakkam in 2016. She lost all three elections – the first to the DMK and the latter two to the BJP’s ex-allies, the AIADMK, or the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

Ahead of the Lok Sabha election – to take place over seven phases starting April 19 – the BJP has been active in the south, where the party has struggled. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has already made five visits to Tamil Nadu this year, where the BJP is without a major alliance partner.