Chennai, June 13 (IANS) Senior Tamil Nadu politician and former Vilavancode MLA Vijayadharani on Saturday joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), ending her 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 stint in the party. She subsequently resigned her Assembly membership and joined the BJP in the presence of the party’s national leadership in New Delhi.

A prominent face of the Congress in southern Tamil Nadu for many years, Vijayadharani had served as the party’s Chief Whip in the state Assembly and also held the post of All India Mahila Congress General Secretary.

Her decision to leave the Congress was seen as a major setback for the party in Kanyakumari district.

However, her political journey in the BJP failed to gain momentum. Party sources said she had become increasingly unhappy over the absence of a significant organisational role despite being 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.

Contesting from her traditional stronghold of Vilavancode as a BJP candidate, Vijayadharani suffered defeat.

Political observers attributed the loss to the continued loyalty of traditional Congress voters to the party symbol and the emergence of the TVK as a strong force in the region.

Sources also indicated that Vijayadharani was dissatisfied with the level of support extended to her by sections of the BJP organisation during the election campaign. With limited prospects for growth within the party, she is believed to have explored other political options in recent months.

She arrived at the TVK’s headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, on Saturday and formally joined the party in the presence of senior leaders.

Reports suggest that no specific post was promised to her before joining. Several other leaders also joined TVK alongside Vijayadharani, including former AIADMK minister Pachamal, former MPs Bala Ganga, Vanaroja and Ilavarasan, besides a number of AIADMK and AMMK functionaries.

Her entry is expected to strengthen TVK’s organisational presence in Kanyakumari district as the party seeks to expand its base in southern Tamil Nadu ahead of future elections.

–IANS

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