Tamilisai Soundararajan Clears Air About Video Of Amit Shah ‘Scolding' Her, Says Was Discussing ‘Post-Poll Challenges’

Amid the controversy surrounding a viral video of her interaction with senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amit Shah,  former Telangana governor Tamilisai Soundararajan tried to end speculation of her getting “admonished” and said the Union Home Minister was asking her to “carry out political and constituency work intensively”.

Soundararajan took to X to clear the air around the clip and said she met Shah for the first time following the declaration of Lok Sabha poll results and the duo was talking about “post-poll follow-up”.

“Yesterday as I met our Honorable Home Minister Sri @AmitShah ji in AP for the first time after the 2024 Elections he called me to ask about post-poll followup and the challenges faced”

“As I was elaborating, due to paucity of time with utmost concern, he advised to carry out the political and constituency work intensively which was reassuring. This is to clarify all unwarranted speculations,” she said.

Viral Video

In a video clip from Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader Chandrababu Naidu’s swearing-in ceremony as Andhra Pradesh chief minister on Wednesday, Shah can be seen talking to BJP’s former Tamil Nadu chief Soundararajan animatedly while gesturing with his finger.

The clip went viral after some state BJP leaders posted it on social media suggesting that Shah was rebuking Soundararajan for remarks purportedly targeting Tamil Nadu BJP chief K Annamalai.

Soundararajan contested from the South Chennai Lok Sabha seat. She lost the election to DMK’s Tamizhachi Thangapandian.

Her comment assumes significance in the wake of rumours of an intra-party feud in the Tamil Nadu unit of the BJP.

Soundararajan, on her return to Chennai on Wednesday, declined to comment, when she was asked by reporters on the claims of a discord within the party vis-a-vis her interaction with Shah.

Her alleged comments on “criminal elements” in the BJP and that “the party would have won had there been an alliance with the AIADMK” were among the triggering factors.

Politics Over Viral Video

Soon after the video went viral, DMK  spokesperson Saravanan Annadurai questioned the Home Minister for using harsh words with threatening body language against a woman leader.

“What kind of politics is this? Is it civilised to bring a senior woman leader from Tamil Nadu on stage and exhibit harsh words, with a threatening body language? Is Amit Shah unaware that everyone will be watching this? Sets a very wrong precedent,” he said in a post on X.