Lesser known L Murugan appointed Tamil Nadu state BJP chief

The BJP on Wednesday (March 11) sprang a surprise by appointing L Murugan, vice-chairman, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), it’s Tamil Nadu chief.

The announcement made by the party national president JP Nadda caps six months of suspense over who would succeed Tamilisai Soundararajan.

The post has been lying vacant ever since Tamilisai moved to the Telangana Raj Bhavan, as its Governor, in September 2019.

Since then, a lot many names have been doing the rounds on social media over who would be chosen to head the state BJP unit. CP Radhakrishnan, H Raja, Karu Nagarajan, KT Raghavan and Nainar Nagendran were some of the names that got circulated.

The name of Murugan was not heard even in BJP circles.

A doctorate in law, Murugan has 15 years of experience as an advocate at the Madras High Court. He is known for taking cases related to Dalits under the NCSC’s purview.

Known for having handled some controversial and sensitive case, he was of the view that there was external pressure in the suicide of Anitha, the girl lost her case against the conduct of NEET in Tamil Nadu, a couple of years back.

He also ordered the NCSC to investigate the “love jihad” angle in the murder of Trichy BJP functionary Vijaya Raghu.

Speaking to the Puthiya Thalaimurai TV channel, Murugan thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Nadda and swore to meet the expectations of the party’s top brass.

“Just now the announcement has come. I have been working in NCSC as its vice-chairman. I have met many people and know their problems. The party has believed in me and has given me this responsibility. I will play my role effectively,” he said