Former TN MLA Vijayadharani joins TVK after quitting BJP
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Chennai: Senior Tamil Nadu politician and former Vilavancode MLA Vijayadharani on Saturday joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), ending her nearly two-year association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Vijayadharani, a three-time MLA from the Vilavancode Assembly constituency in Kanniyakumari district, had quit the Congress in February 2024 after a long political career with the party. She later resigned from the Assembly and joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of the party’s national leadership.
A prominent Congress leader in southern Tamil Nadu for several years, Vijayadharani had served as the party’s Chief Whip in the state Assembly and also held the position of General Secretary of the All India Mahila Congress.
Her exit from the Congress was considered a major setback for the party in Kanyakumari district.
However, her political journey with the BJP did not gain the expected momentum. Party sources said she had become increasingly unhappy over not being given a significant organisational role despite being associated with the BJP for nearly two years.
She was also reportedly disappointed after not getting an opportunity to contest the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat following the death of former Congress MP H. Vasanthakumar.
The recent Assembly election proved to be another setback for her. Contesting from her traditional Vilavancode seat as a BJP candidate, Vijayadharani suffered defeat.
Political observers attributed the loss to the continued support of traditional Congress voters for the party symbol and the growing presence of TVK as a political force in the region.
Sources also indicated that Vijayadharani was dissatisfied with the support extended to her by sections of the BJP organisation during the election campaign. With limited opportunities for political growth within the party, she is believed to have explored other options in recent months.
On Saturday, she arrived at the TVK headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, and formally joined the party in the presence of senior leaders.
Reports suggest that no specific position was promised to her before joining TVK.
Several other leaders also joined TVK along with Vijayadharani, including former AIADMK minister Pachamal, former MPs Bala Ganga, Vanaroja and Ilavarasan, along with several AIADMK and AMMK functionaries.
Her entry is expected to boost TVK’s organisational strength in Kanyakumari district as the party looks to expand its presence in southern Tamil Nadu ahead of future elections.
With IANS inputs