"Lotus Will Blossom In Tamil Nadu": Tamilisai Soundararajan Rejoins BJP After Leaving Governorship, To Contest Lok Sabha Elections

Tamilisai Soundararajan, who resigned from the post of Telangana Governor and Puducherry Lieutenant Governor (LG) a couple of days ago, rejoined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (20 March).

Her joining was facilitated by Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai in Chennai. Upon joining, she expressed her desire to contest the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.

"I am happy to get back the membership card... It's the happiest day. There were many facilities to me as Governor but I left it... I don't regret it even 1 per cent... Lotus will blossom in Tamil Nadu for sure," she said.

"I wanted to connect with the people and serve people directly. I will be a candidate but High Command will decide which constituency," she said thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Soundararajan has earlier contested two Vidhan Sabha (in 2006 and 2011) and two Lok Sabha elections (in 2009 and 2019) on a BJP ticket in Tamil Nadu but lost all.

Her 2019 contest was against DMK's Kanimozhi Karunanidhi in Thoothukkudi, where Soundararajan garnered around 22 per cent votes.

In a candidate list released earlier today, DMK again nominated Kanimozhi from Thootukkudi. It is likely that Soundararajan can challenge Kanimozhi again.

Soundararajan became the Governor of Telangana in September 2019 and took upon the responsibility of Puducherry LG in February 2021. Her resignation was accepted by President Droupadi Murmu on 18 March.

Jharkhand Governor CP Radhakrishnan has been appointed to discharge the functions of the Governor of Telangana and LG of Puducherry in addition to his own duties, until regular arrangements are made.