Vijayadharani quits BJP for TVK after two years, joins Kamal's party in Chennai
Synopsis
A three-time MLA who once led Congress in Kanyakumari, then crossed to BJP, Vijayadharani has now landed at TVK — her third party in under two years. The move signals both the fragility of BJP's hold on southern Tamil Nadu and TVK's growing pull as a destination for legislators without a political home.
Key Takeaways
Vijayadharani , a three-time MLA from Vilavancode , joined TVK on 13 June at the party's Panaiyur, Chennai headquarters.
She had left Congress in February 2024 and joined BJP in New Delhi , ending a long association with the party.
She was reportedly unhappy with the lack of an organisational role in BJP and was not fielded for the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat.
She lost the recent Assembly election from Vilavancode as a BJP candidate.
Former AIADMK minister Pachamal and former MPs Bala Ganga , Vanaroja , and Ilavarasan also joined TVK alongside her.
No specific post was reportedly promised to Vijayadharani before her induction into TVK.
Former Vilavancode MLA Vijayadharani, a three-time legislator and once a prominent Congress face in southern Tamil Nadu, formally joined Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Saturday, 13 June, ending a two-year association with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). She arrived at TVK's headquarters in Panaiyur, Chennai, and was inducted in the presence of senior party leaders.
A Political Journey Marked by Restlessness
Vijayadharani represented the Vilavancode Assembly constituency in Kanniyakumari district three times under the Congress banner. She served as the party's Chief Whip in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and held the post of All India Mahila Congress General Secretary — making her exit from Congress in February 2024 a significant blow for the party in the district.
She resigned her Assembly membership and joined the BJP in New Delhi in the presence of the party's national leadership. Her switch was widely read as a sign of Congress's weakening grip in the Kanyakumari belt.
Why the BJP Stint Failed to Deliver
According to party sources, Vijayadharani grew increasingly disenchanted within the BJP over the absence of a meaningful organisational role despite nearly two years of membership. She was also reportedly disappointed at not being fielded for the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat that fell vacant following the death of former Congress MP H. Vasanthakumar.
Contesting from her traditional stronghold of Vilavancode as a BJP candidate in the recent Assembly election, she suffered defeat. Political observers attributed the loss to the enduring loyalty of Congress voters to the party symbol and to TVK's growing strength in the region. Sources suggest she also felt let down by inadequate support from sections of the BJP organisation during the campaign.
The Move to TVK
Reports indicate that no specific post was promised to Vijayadharani ahead of her joining TVK. She was accompanied by several other leaders, including former AIADMK minister Pachamal, former MPs Bala Ganga, Vanaroja, and Ilavarasan, along with a number of AIADMK and AMMK functionaries.
What This Means for TVK in Kanyakumari
Vijayadharani's entry is expected to bolster TVK's organisational footprint in Kanyakumari district as the party works to expand its base across southern Tamil Nadu ahead of future elections. Her grassroots experience and name recognition in Vilavancode could prove valuable for a party still building its ground presence in the region.
This is the latest in a series of prominent inductions into TVK, underscoring the party's ambition to emerge as a credible third force in Tamil Nadu's competitive political landscape.
Point of View
Gave her no meaningful role, and then watched her lose her own stronghold — a sequence that will make future recruitment harder. For TVK, the gain is real but conditional: Kanyakumari's voters have shown they follow the Congress symbol, not its defectors. Whether Vijayadharani can deliver the ground network TVK needs, or whether she simply adds to a roster of prominent faces without electoral traction, will be the real test of this induction.
NationPress
9 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Vijayadharani and why is her joining TVK significant?
Vijayadharani is a three-time MLA from the Vilavancode Assembly constituency in Kanniyakumari district and a former Chief Whip of the Congress in the Tamil Nadu Assembly. Her move to TVK is significant because it adds an experienced southern Tamil Nadu legislator to the party's ranks as TVK seeks to expand beyond its core base.
Why did Vijayadharani leave the BJP?
According to party sources, she was dissatisfied with the absence of a significant organisational role despite nearly two years in the BJP. She was also reportedly disappointed at not being given the opportunity to contest the Kanyakumari Lok Sabha seat, and she subsequently lost the recent Assembly election from Vilavancode as a BJP candidate.
What was Vijayadharani's role in the Congress before she left?
She served as Congress's Chief Whip in the Tamil Nadu Assembly and held the post of All India Mahila Congress General Secretary. Her departure from Congress in February 2024 was considered a major setback for the party in Kanyakumari district.
Who else joined TVK alongside Vijayadharani on 13 June?
Several leaders joined TVK at the same event, including former AIADMK minister Pachamal, former MPs Bala Ganga, Vanaroja, and Ilavarasan, along with a number of AIADMK and AMMK functionaries.
Was Vijayadharani given a post in TVK upon joining?
Reports indicate that no specific post was promised to her before she joined TVK. Her entry is primarily seen as strengthening the party's organisational presence in Kanyakumari district ahead of future elections.
