Tamilisai Soundararajan resigns as Telangana Governor, eyes Lok Sabha Elections 2024

PTC Web Desk: Tamilisai Soundararajan, Governor of Telangana and Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry, tendered her resignation from both positions on Monday morning. According to sources, Soundararajan, who earlier served as the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party's Tamil Nadu unit, is anticipated to contest the Lok Sabha elections 2024.

Aged 62, Tamilisai Soundararajan assumed office as Telangana's second Governor in November 2019 and later took on the additional responsibility as Lieutenant-Governor of Puducherry in February 2021. Reports suggest that she is likely to vie for Puducherry's sole Lok Sabha seat, currently held by the Congress.

Sources within the BJP believe that Soundararajan possesses a stronger rapport with the people of Puducherry, prompting speculation that she might contest from there. Besides, there are discussions about fielding her from one of the three seats in Tamil Nadu, including the Thoothukudi constituency, currently held by Kanimozhi of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK).

Soundararajan's electoral history includes an unsuccessful bid for the Thoothukudi seat in 2019, as well as a previous attempt for the Chennai (North) seat in 2009, both of which she lost. She also contested in the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections thrice, without success.

The Bharatiya Janata Party, particularly focusing on strengthening its presence in southern states, has intensified its activities ahead of the Lok Sabha elections 2024, scheduled to commence on April 19. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has undertaken multiple visits to Tamil Nadu this year, where the BJP lacks a significant alliance partner.