The 65-year old Pillai is presently the state BJP president and is one of the most sought after criminal lawyer in the state.
"Prime Minister had asked me if I was interested to work outside Kerala. I have accepted the decision of the national leadership of the party. I see this as another way to serve the people. In the past also, I was considered for a governor's post and I have never approached anyone for posts," said Pillai.
Pillai was serving his second term as the state president of the party, after having had a term from 2003-06.
Often known as the 'soft face' in the Kerala unit of the BJP, he rose to this level starting as a student leader of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad in the mid seventies.
Pillai apart from being a regular BJP candidate in Kerala elections, last contested the Chengannur assembly bypoll last year in June and soon after the results came, where he finished third behind the traditional two rival political fronts, he was appointed as the new BJP president, replacing Kummanem Rajasekheran, who was appointed as the Mizoram Governor.
Incidentally, Pillai is the third Keralite to be appointed as Mizoram Governor.
The first was veteran Congress leader Vakkom Purushothaman in 2011.
( With inputs from IANS )