Vijayadharani S

S. Vijayadharani, 56, is an advocate and politician who recently made a dramatic political shift from the Indian National Congress to the Bharatiya Janata Party. Born on October 13, 1969, in Kanniyakumari, Tamil Nadu, she is the granddaughter of renowned Tamil poet and social reformer Kavimani Desigavinayagam Pillai. Her political career has been marked by remarkable consistency in the Vilavancode constituency, where she won three consecutive Assembly elections in 2011, 2016, and 2021, with her vote share steadily increasing from 43.69% to an impressive 52.12%. During her Congress tenure, she held influential positions including President of Tamil Nadu Mahila Congress and General Secretary of All India Mahila Congress in charge of Karnataka. On February 24, 2024, Vijayadharani resigned from the Congress and joined the BJP at the party headquarters in Delhi, marking a significant political realignment. Her resignation letter stated she was leaving "the position of primary membership and related posts" in the Congress party. This switch was viewed as strategically significant for the BJP, which has struggled to establish a strong presence in Tamil Nadu. She cited ideological differences and a desire to align with the BJP's national agenda as reasons for the transition. The move has positioned her as a key player in the BJP's efforts to strengthen its foothold in the Kanyakumari region. Vijayadharani is now contesting the 2026 Tamil Nadu Assembly elections from Vilavancode as a BJP candidate, facing off against her former party Congress and other opponents including candidates from NTK, TVK, and others. Her affidavit declares assets worth Rs. 22.42 crore, including movable assets of Rs. 7.56 crore and immovable assets of Rs. 14.86 crore, with liabilities of Rs. 49 lakh. She has one criminal case involving charges under Section 120B (criminal conspiracy), though no serious IPC charges are recorded. Her husband, Sivakumar Kennedy, passed away in 2016, and she has two children. Voters in Vilavancode face a unique situation: evaluating a three-term incumbent who won under Congress colors but now seeks re-election under the BJP banner. Her track record shows electoral strength and organizational skills, having held senior party positions, but the party switch raises questions about political consistency and loyalty. No major corruption allegations or criminal controversies have been reported against her in recent news coverage, though the timing of her switch ahead of elections has been noted in political circles.