Chennai: BJP Tamil Nadu unit president Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan stepped down from her post and gave up her party membership after being appointed Governor of Telangana state.
A medical doctor by profession, Dr Soundararajan was ecstatic over being appointed the first woman Governor of the nation’s youngest state formed on June 2, 2014. Interestingly, her birthday falls on June 2, and she took up the reins of the BJP as president in 2014. She said her decision to join the BJP and to remain steadfast over the years had not gone in vain.
“I chose the BJP despite growing up as daughter of a Congress leader (Kumari Anandan). The biggest challenge in my life was to stay determined about my decision to join BJP and make a mark for myself without any hurdles,” she said.
And she choose her own path. “Today my father will be happy for my decision,” the 58-year-old leader added.
Expressing great delight over his daughter becoming governor, Mr Kumari Anandan said as a father he was overjoyed with her elevation.
“The appointment is a reward for her persistent hard work and capabilities,” the former TNCC chief said.
Dr Soundararajan said she would proudly quit the Tamil Nadu BJP presidency as she was instrumental in taking the party membership to 44.5 lakh in the state. She lost the Thoothukudi Lok Sabha seat in the 2019 general elections to DMK's M. Kanimozhi.
“My most sincere thanks to Shri. Narendra Modiji for giving me an opportunity to serve as Governor of Telangana my sincere thanks to @AmitShah and for all those who have been supportive to me in my political career. I feel this as an opportunity to serve the nation,” Dr Soundararajan said in a tweet.
Reacting to her appointment, she told a TV channel, “I like to thank God and the ruler of the country. That the BJP recognises hard work has been proven once again by our Prime Minister Modi and party president Amit Shah. Except for putting in my hard work I have not done anything else for the party. And this is proven by the 44.5 lakh members who have joined the party in Tamil Nadu recently. Irrespective of my age, the leaders have given me this opportunity and I dedicate this success to everyone in the party, all party members, the people of Tamil Nadu and my parents.”
