Cannot import tkinter in Python.Net code

[mwhite62]

Environment

• Pythonnet version: 3.1.0-preview2024-03-03
• Python version: 3.8.10
• Operating System: Windows 10
• .NET Runtime: .Net Framework 4.8

Details

• I am new to Python.Net. I have a HelloWorld.py script:

from tkinter import *

root = Tk()
a = Label(root, text ="Hello World")
a.pack()

root.mainloop()

If I run this script from the command window, it is successful and displays a tkinter window with a "Hello World" label.

If I run this code in Python.Net with VisualStudio:
// latestInstalledVersionDir is pointing to my installed Python directory
// pythonDLL is pointing to "python38.dll"
// libPath is pointing to my installed Python directory\Lib
Runtime.PythonDLL = Path.Combine(latestInstalledVersionDir, pythonDll);
PythonEngine.PythonHome = latestInstalledVersionDir;
PythonEngine.PythonPath = libPath;

        PythonEngine.Initialize();
        using (Py.GIL())
        {
            PythonEngine.RunSimpleString(@"

importing tkinter stuff

from tkinter import *

root = Tk()
a = Label(root, text ='Hello World')
a.pack()

root.mainloop()
");
}

I get the error : Traceback (most recent call last):
File "", line 3, in
File "[my user directory]\AppData\Local\Programs\Python\Python38\Lib\tkinter_init_.py", line 36, in
import _tkinter # If this fails your Python may not be configured for Tk
ModuleNotFoundError: No module named '_tkinter'

There are many conflicting posts about this error with Python alone. I am not having that issue since when I run the script directly from python with my HelloWorld.py file, it executes successfully. I could not find any resources about this error within Python.Net. Any help would be greatly appreciated.