GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 8th March. Congress leader Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran, crossed party lines to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in New Delhi on Thursday. Venugopal expressed her discontent with the Congress party’s leadership, citing a lack of responsiveness to her concerns and grievances.
Addressing a press conference at the BJP headquarters alongside senior party leaders, Venugopal highlighted her frustrations with the Congress high command, stating that despite repeated attempts to communicate her issues, she received no response or appointment.
She expressed disappointment with the Congress’s leadership, particularly since the last assembly elections in Kerala, stressing the need for a strong and accessible leadership within a party.
Venugopal underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership qualities, praising him as a “very strong leader” and contrasting his leadership with what she perceives as a lack of leadership within the Congress party. Despite her respect for Sonia Gandhi, Venugopal lamented the inability to meet her or receive an appointment.
The BJP welcomed Venugopal into the party fold, with senior leaders, including Kerala in-charge Prakash Javadekar, expressing optimism about the party’s prospects in Kerala. Javadekar highlighted the “big churning” expected in Kerala politics and emphasized the growing support for the BJP, particularly under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership.
Javadekar lauded Modi’s contributions to Kerala’s progress and reiterated the BJP’s commitment to providing respect, responsibility, and opportunities to its members. He expressed confidence in Venugopal’s abilities as a campaigner and reiterated the party’s determination to make history in the upcoming elections.
Tom Vaddakan, another BJP leader present at the press conference, described Venugopal’s decision to join the party as a deeply emotional moment, given his close association with her father, K Karunakaran, who had served as his mentor. Vaddakan, who himself had previously switched allegiance from the Congress to the BJP, welcomed Venugopal and expressed optimism about her role within the party.
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