Tamilisai Soundararajan

Tamilisai Soundararajan (born 2 June 1961) is an Indian medical doctor and serving as the 2nd and current Governor of Telangana and former President of the Tamil Nadu BJP.[3][4] She was the National Secretary and Tamil Nadu State Unit President of the BJP prior to this appointment.

Tamilisai Soundararajan
2nd Governor of Telangana
Incumbent
Assumed office 8 September 2019
Chief Minister	K. Chandrasekhar Rao
Preceded by	E. S. L. Narasimhan
President of Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party
In office 26 May 2014 – 1 September 2019
Preceded by	Pon Radhakrishnan
Succeeded by	L. Murugan
Director (Independent Charge), Bharat Petroleum Corporation of India [1]
In office 16 September 2017 – 1 September 2019
National Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party
In office 2013–2014
Vice-President of Bharatiya Janata Party (Tamil Nadu)
In office 2010–2013
General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party (Tamil Nadu)
In office 2007–2010
All India Co-Convenor of Bharatiya Janata Party Medical Wing (Southern States)
In office 2005–2007
General Secretary of Bharatiya Janata Party Medical Wing (Tamil Nadu)
In office 2001–2005
Personal details
Born	(1961-06-02) 2 June 1961[2] Nagerkovil, Madras State, India (present-day Tamil Nadu)
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Bharatiya Janata Party (until 1 September 2019)
Spouse(s)	Dr. P. Soundararajan
Children	Suganathan Soundararajan, Poovini Soundararajan
Parents	Kumari Ananthan (Father) Krishna Kumari (Mother)
Residence	Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
Alma mater	Madras Medical College
Occupation	Physician Politician

Personal life and education

She was born in Nagercoil, Kanyakumari Kandam on 2 June 1961. Her father Kumari Ananthan,[5] is a former Member of Parliament and senior congress party leader in Tamil Nadu. Her husband, Mr. Soundarajan, is a medical doctor. [6]

She started her higher graduation at Ethiraj College for Women, followed by pursuing her MBBS at Madras Medical College, Chennai[7] and her obstetrics and gynaecology qualifications at Dr. MGR Medical University, Chennai. She did higher training in Sonology and FET therapy in Canada.

Prior to political commitment she worked as an assistant professor at Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai for 5 years.[7]

Political career

Soundararajan presenting books to Prime minister Narendra Modi

Soundararajan became interested in politics from childhood, having been brought up in a political family.[8] She was elected as a student leader during her studies at Madras Medical College. She served the Tamil Nadu state BJP unit in various capacities starting from South Chennai District Medical Wing Secretary in 1999, State General Secretary Medical Wing in 2001, All India Co-Convenor (Medical Wing For Southern States)[9] in 2005, State General Secretary in 2007, State Vice-President in 2010 and elevated as National Secretary, All India BJP in 2013.[10] She was appointed as the Governor of Telangana on 1 September 2019 by the order of the President of India, Ram Nath Kovind. She took charge as Governor of Telangana on 9 September 2019.

Soundararajan has lost in all her attempts at becoming an or MLA to date, having contested two Assembly elections and Parliament elections unsuccessfully. In the 2019 Indian general election, she lost against Kanimozhi, daughter of M Karunanidhi.[11][12] She extensively campaigned in parliament and assembly elections across the state.[13]

Media

She conducted a programme promoting the oratory Skills for students and children, which was broadcast on the Tamil channel Raj TV for more than 10 years.[7] She conducted a weekly programme for women in "Doordarshan" Channel which was aired as Magalir Panchayat (Women's Court) for over 5 years. She Participated in several political debates against other political leaders including Sun TV, NDTV, Times Now and various local channels.[7]

Elections contested

Lok Sabha Elections

Elections	Constituency	Party	Result	Vote percentage	Opposition Candidate	Opposition Party	Opposition vote percentage
2009 Indian general election	Chennai Vadakku	BJP	Lost	3.54	T. K. S. Elangovan	DMK	42.59
2019 Indian general election	Thooththukkudi	BJP	Lost	21.77	Kanimozhi Karunanidhi	DMK	56.77

Tamil Nadu Legislative Elections

Elections	Constituency	Party	Result	Vote percentage	Opposition Candidate	Opposition Party	Opposition vote percentage
2006 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election	Radhapuram	BJP	Lost	4.71	M. Appavu	DMK	43.37
2011 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election	Velachery	BJP	Lost	4.63	M. K. Ashok	AIADMK	53.91
2016 Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly election	Virugambakkam	BJP	Lost	11.19	V. N. Virugai Ravi	AIADMK	38.51

Positions

Women rights

Soundararajan is a supporter of the #metoo movement and has emphasised that any women who had faced sexual harassment should get justice.[14]

Temple management

Soundarajan has asserted that temples must be managed by committees formed of devotees of the temple and consist of theists.[15]

References

1. "Tamilisai on BPCL board". The Hindu. 16 September 2017 – via www.thehindu.com.
2. Jun 2, C. D. S. Mani | TNN | Updated; 2016; Ist, 20:33. "Tamilisai Soundararajan vows to take Modi govt schemes to all villages in TN - Chennai News - Times of India". The Times of India.CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
3. "Tamilisai Sounderrajan appointed BJP TNEB unit president". The Hindu. 17 August 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
4. "New BJP chiefs for Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Tamil Nadu and Assam". The Economic Times/Times of India. PTI. 16 August 2014. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
5. "The Hindu News Update Service". The Hindu. 13 April 2009. Archived from the original on 3 December 2013. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
6. "Dr Tamilisai Soudrarajan: Age, Biography, Education, Husband, Caste, Net Worth & More - Oneindia". www.oneindia.com.
7. "Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan".
8. Sudha (29 November 2013). "Tamilisai Soundararajan opens her mind | நான் டுமிழிசை செளந்தரராஜன் பேசுகிறேன் ! - Oneindia Tamil" (in Tamil). Tamil.oneindia.in. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
9. "Bharatiya Jalsa Party". Bjp.org. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
10. "Jual Oram appointed as BJP's national Vice President, Dharmendra Pradhan as General Secretary". Orissadiary.com. 31 March 2013. Archived from the original on 12 August 2014. Retrieved 2 June 2014.
11. "Dr. Tamilisai Soundrarajan(Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP)):Constituency- VELACHERY(CHENNAI) - Affidavit Information of Candidate". Myneta.info. 14 June 2004. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
12. "News Today". www.maalaisudar.com. 7 May 2009. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
13. "After 'chai', now a NaMo fish stall in Chennai". Mangaloretoday.com. Retrieved 27 September 2017.
14. "Tamilisai backs sexual abuse victims". The Hindu. 12 October 2018 – via www.thehindu.com.
15. Reporter, Staff (13 February 2018). "Only the devout must manage temples: BJP". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.

Political offices
Preceded by E. S. L. Narasimhan	Governor of Telangana 8 September 2019 – Present	Incumbent