LS Polls: Tamilisai returns to state politics; likely to field from Chennai South

CHENNAI: Piercing her potential return to electoral politics, Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant Governor of Puducherry has stepped down from her post, fuelling speculation that she will be fielded as the BJP candidate in the Chennai (South) Lok Sabha constituency.

Confirming her resignation, Tamilisai Soundararajan on Monday said, "I have voluntarily resigned from my post as Governor because I wanted to return to serious public life. I will be grateful for the love of the people of Telangana and Puducherry. My passion is working directly with people. Although a people's governor, I have resigned my governorship to serve the people vigorously."

"I resigned from my post of Governor after formally informing the PM and the Home Minister. They know my preference. If my resignation is accepted, I will inform you about the next course of action. People will understand my love if I leave the comfortable life of Governor and join electoral politics, " Tamilisai told reporters here.

Sources close to Tamilisai said, she has sent her resignation letter to the President of India, Droupadi Murmu and a copy to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah and the President is yet to accept her resignation.

A senior leader in the BJP said moves were on to declare her as the party's nominee for the coming Lok Sabha election from the State Capital, signalling her return to active politics.

"In the absence of a strong alliance partner (AIADMK) in TN, Tamilisai is set to return to active politics as the national high-command decided to field prominent faces as candidates. Based on an opinion poll conducted among the party cadres, Tamilisai's services are needed by Tamil Nadu and she is being brought back into electoral politics by our national high-command, " a senior leader close to Tamilisai told DT Next on the condition of anonymity.

The daughter of former Congress leader of Tamil Nadu, Kumari ananthan, Tamilisai Soundararajan joined the BJP and became a Chennai South district Medical Wing secretary in 2001 and State general secretary in 2007, state vice president in 2010 and elevated as National Secretary of the BJP in 2013.

She later in August 2014, became the president of Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party and served as the president till September 1, 2019 and she was appointed as the Governor of Telangana on September 1, 2019 and she was given additional charge of Puducherry on February 16, 2021.

Soundararajan had lost in all her attempts at becoming an MLA and MP to date, having contested two Assembly election and Parliament elections unsuccessfully.

In the 2019 general elections, Tamilisai contested in the southern district of Thoothukudi and lost against Kanimozhi Karunanidhi, daughter of former DMK patriarch M Karunanidhi.