New Delhi:

BJP’s Chennai South candidate Tamilisai Soundararajan faces a huge electoral battle in this Lok Sabha constituency, which has been a stronghold of the ruling DMK and is currently represented by Tamilachi Thangapandian. She also faces AIADMK’s J Jayavardhan, making this year’s contest a triangular contest with all three leaders popular with a large section of the electorate.

“I am confident of being able to lead this constituency,” Ms Sandra Rajan told New Delhi TV as she thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving her a chance to fight from south Chennai.

“People want change. I want good infrastructure in south Chennai. I have been a voter for decades. I know every nook and cranny of this constituency,” said Ms Sandra Rajan, who is also a doctor .

She said she had given up the governorship to serve the people directly.

As a doctor, what medicine would she prescribe in South Chennai? Ms. Sandra Rajan said, “This constituency is full of garbage and dumpsters. Immunity in the constituency needs to be improved. Then look into traffic, cleanliness, mosquito menace, no infrastructure……”

“I needed to have this disease diagnosed first,” she added.

Ms. Soundararajan’s task is not easy. For the BJP, winning in Tamil Nadu has historically been an almost impossible task. However, Ms Sandra Rajan said she was confident that this could be changed.

The BJP’s alliance with the Patali Makkal Kutch (PMK) provides it with an opportunity as the PMK has electoral clout in the northern districts of Tamil Nadu and the MBCs belong to The Vanyans are candidates in several constituencies that are key to deciding the fate of the region.

Ms Sandra Rajan said the key to winning in Tamil Nadu was ensuring people understood the alignment of national and state interests.

South Chennai constituency will go to polls in the first phase on April 19.