Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of the late Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister of Kerala, K. Karunakaran, made headlines by officially joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi on Thursday, just before the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections in 2024. The decision of the former Congress leader to switch camps ahead of the elections marked a significant political development.
The announcement of Venugopal's move to the BJP was made by Kerala BJP chief K. Surendran, who welcomed her into the party fold during an event at the BJP Headquarters in New Delhi. Surendran underscored Venugopal's stature within the Congress, highlighting her familial ties with prominent Congress leaders like K. Karunakaran and Congress MP K. Muraleedharan.
However, Venugopal's decision to join the BJP was met with criticism from her own brother, Congress MP K. Muraleedharan, who labeled it as a betrayal. Muraleedharan expressed disappointment over his sister's move, stating that Karunakaran had never compromised with communalism during his political career, and joining the BJP was contrary to his principles. He emphasized that the BJP would gain no advantage from Venugopal's entry into the party, particularly among voters with a secular mindset.
Muraleedharan also pointed out that Venugopal had previously contested elections on Congress tickets in Kerala but had faced defeat on three occasions. He dismissed claims that internal party dynamics had contributed to her electoral losses, asserting that electoral outcomes were determined by the electorate.
Meanwhile, Congress MP in Rajya Sabha Jebi Mather acknowledged Venugopal's contributions within the party, noting her role in the Parliamentary Affairs Committee. Mather emphasized that electoral outcomes were shaped by the issues that resonated with voters, rather than individual party affiliations.
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Adding to the chorus of criticism, CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan remarked on the limited electoral impact of recent defections from the Congress to the BJP, including Anil Antony, son of former Union Minister A. K. Antony. Govindan expressed skepticism about the BJP's prospects in Kerala, suggesting that such defections would not translate into electoral gains for the saffron party.
With Kerala sending 20 members to the Lok Sabha, the political landscape of the state is poised for intense competition as the nation braces for the upcoming parliamentary elections.
