"Lotuses will bloom in Assembly," says new TN BJP chief

Chennai, Aug 18: The newly appointed president of BJP Tamil Nadu unit Tamilisai Soundararajan today said that her party would be well represented in the State Legislature after the 2016 assembly elections.

"Lotus (now) rules Red Fort and in the 2016 polls lotuses will bloom in Fort St George (Tamil Nadu) and our party workers will become people's representatives in the Assembly," she said after formally taking charge as president at party headquarters "Kamalalayam."

Presently, the BJP does not have any members in the state Legislative Assembly. Concurring with the view of senior leader Ila Ganesan who described greetings from leaders cutting across party lines to her as a "turning point," she said, "nationalist forces" will gain strength in Tamil Nadu which was on decline since 1967 with the ascent of Dravidian parties and affirmed that she would work towards that.

Promising to "take along everyone" under the guidance of party elders, she said the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit will continue to work on key issues including ending the travails of the State's fishermen, getting Tamils rehabilitated in Sri Lanka and achieving interlinking of Rivers.

She thanked the party for the "big responsibility" adding it was a "big opportunity" to work for the welfare of the people and strengthen the party.

Earlier, Tamilisai was accorded a rousing reception which included honours by temple priests. Located in T Nagar locality here, the party headquarters was teeming with cadres and the entire street was decked up with party flags, banners and festoons.

PTI