Padmaja Venugopal, a Kerala Congress politician, joins the BJP

The daughter of late Congress leader K Karunakaran, Padmaja Venugopal, has caused a stir in state politics by joining the BJP with just a few weeks to go before the Lok Sabha election. The Congress’s leadership was taken aback by the decision, which has shocked the saffron camp, which is thrilled about what it views as a prize capture. As part of a significant election campaign, the CPM plans to bring up the defection of two former Congress chief ministers’ children to the BJP. The Left believes that in the next election, minorities—particularly members of the Muslim community—will turn away from the Congress.

Padmaja’s action supports the CPM’s claim that voting for the Congress is equivalent to voting for the BJP. But it’s also seen as a sign of the BJP’s growing popularity among activists and political parties. The CPM has been claiming for a while now that the Congress of today is the BJP of future, citing the several tall figures who have joined the saffron party in northern India.

Following Anil Antony’s exit from the BJP, Padmaja’s entry has provided the CPM with a chance to alert secularists, especially the Muslim community, to an impending danger to Kerala’s secular fabric.

“What is the guarantee that if a Congress candidate is selected, they would remain in that party?” said M V Govindan, the state secretary of the CPM. — currently exists in several forms. Congress officials with secular views who are unable to join the saffron party are also cordially invited to join the Left. Congress leaders have received warm receptions from the CPM and have been given important posts.

The Muslim community will also be asked to consider the political and moral implications of supporting a party that has lost credibility by the CPM. According to political analyst Ajith Sreenivasan, “these are not your typical Congress leaders joining the BJP.” “A K Antony and K Karunakaran, two prominent Congressmen, are the parents of Anil and Padmaja, two politically engaged individuals. Even though they may not win many votes, the BJP has become more respectable in Kerala’s binary politics as a result of their efforts. Like the CPM or the Congress, the BJP is now a party that anybody can join without any reluctance, he told the TNIE.

In the midst of an unfavorable moment for both the state administration and the party, the CPM is pleased with the political events. The Padmaja and Anil incidents are already a component of the CPM’s election agenda. The party estimates that the current events will help the LDF, in addition to the ongoing disputes between the Samastha and the Muslim League.

In its campaign, the governing party has already brought up N K Premachandran’s luncheon with Muslim League state president and PM Narendra Modi, praising the dedication of the Ram temple in Ayodhya. Political analyst N M Pearson said, “The developments have shaken the confidence of the Muslim minority in the Congress.” He said, “Padmaja’s departure will also hasten the BJP’s assimilation within the Nair community.” “We now have an accountability issue to deal with,” a senior party leader said. It coincides with the Congress’s attempt to replicate Kerala’s 2019 Lower House results. K Karunakaran smruthi is located at Murali Mandiram, which is now owned by Padmaja. The whole scenario demonstrates the KPCC’s collective failure since they were blind to the BJP’s prior initiatives. “Candidates’ morale is at an all-time low,” he said to TNIE.

The BJP camp is thrilled about this because they believe it may lead to more politicians joining the saffron party. “Operation Lotus” has shown once again that anyone can reach out to anybody.

“Will sever all connections to my sister.”

Congress politician K Muraleedharan MP said, “I have decided to end all ties with my sister Padmaja Venugopal.” “There will be issues within the party but that should not be a reason for joining the BJP,” he remarked in Kozhikode. According to Muraleedharan, Padmaja was guaranteed seats in many elections but was unable to secure a victory. “It is useless to hold other people responsible for our losses,” he said.

For little rewards, leaders are shunning Congress, claims Pinarayi

Congress officials, according to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, have turned into “a particular animal” drawn to bits of leftover bone. At the opening of the LDF candidate’s election gathering in Kannur on Thursday, he said that 11 former Congress chief ministers had already joined the BJP. He said, “These include leaders at all levels, including MPs and MLAs.” There are naive individuals who think that because the Congress and the Left parties are opposing the BJP, it doesn’t matter which party they vote for.