Padmaja Venugopal, Daughter Of Ex-Kerala CM Karunakaran, Switches To BJP Prior To Lok Sabha Polls
Congress MP in Rajya Sabha, Jebi Mather, acknowledged Venugopal's contributions within the party, specifically noting her role in the Parliamentary Affairs Committee.
Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of the late Congress stalwart and former Chief Minister of Kerala, K. Karunakaran, made a significant political move by officially joining the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in Delhi, just ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha Elections in 2024. Her decision to switch allegiance marked a noteworthy development in the political landscape.
The announcement of Venugopal's shift to the BJP was delivered by Kerala BJP chief K. Surendran, who warmly welcomed her into the party ranks during an event held at the BJP Headquarters in New Delhi. Surendran highlighted Venugopal's deep-rooted association with the Congress and her familial connections to prominent Congress leaders such as K. Karunakaran and Congress MP K. Muraleedharan.
However, Venugopal's decision to align with the BJP was met with criticism from her own brother, Congress MP K. Muraleedharan, who denounced it as a betrayal. Muraleedharan expressed disappointment over his sister's decision, stressing that their father, Karunakaran, had always stood firm against communalism, and joining the BJP contradicted his principles. He argued that Venugopal's move wouldn't yield any advantage for the BJP, particularly among voters with a secular mindset.
Muraleedharan also highlighted Venugopal's electoral history, noting her previous unsuccessful attempts at securing seats on Congress tickets in Kerala. He refuted claims suggesting internal party dynamics contributed to her electoral setbacks, asserting that electoral outcomes were solely determined by the electorate's verdict.
Meanwhile, Congress MP in Rajya Sabha, Jebi Mather, acknowledged Venugopal's contributions within the party, specifically noting her role in the Parliamentary Affairs Committee. Mather emphasized that voters were influenced by pertinent issues rather than individual party affiliations, underlining the complexity of electoral dynamics.
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In addition, CPI(M) state secretary M. V. Govindan cast doubts on the 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 regarding the BJP's prospects in Kerala, suggesting that such defections would unlikely translate into electoral gains for the saffron party.
With Kerala's significant 20 Lok Sabha seats at stake, the political arena in the state is set for intense competition as the nation gears up for the impending parliamentary elections.
