S Vijayadharani to Join TVK in Panaiyur, Ending Two-Year Association With BJP

Former Bharatiya Party (BJP) functionary and three-time MLA S Vijayadharani is set to join the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Saturday at the party's headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai. The move marks the end of her two-year association with the BJP and signals a major shift in her political career.

Vijayadharani, accompanied by a group of her supporters, reached the ruling party's Panaiyur headquarters to formalize her entry into the party. She is scheduled to officially join the TVK in the presence of the party’s general secretary and Rural Development minister, N Anand.

This political transition follows the recent April 23 Assembly election, where Vijayadharani unsuccessfully contested the Vilavancode constituency on a BJP ticket. During that election, she secured 45,604 votes and finished in third place. The constituency was won by Congress candidate T T Praveen, while TVK’s Michael Kumar finished in second place ahead of her.

Before her stint with the BJP, Vijayadharani was a prominent leader within the Congress party. She represented the Vilavancode constituency for three consecutive terms, winning the legislative seat in the 2011, 2016, and 2021 elections, establishing a strong political presence in the region.

She resigned from her position as an MLA in February 2024, citing a lack of recognition for her seniority and her work within the Congress party. Following her resignation, she traveled to the BJP's national headquarters in New Delhi to officially join the party, where she publicly praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership.

However, after spending more than two years in the BJP without being appointed to any major position or given significant organizational responsibility, Vijayadharani chose to quit the party. Her decision to exit the BJP and join Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay’s TVK marks the beginning of a new chapter in her career, which could influence local political dynamics.