These are days when several well-known people are joining the BJP in the state. Youth Congress former state secretary, Adv. Shine Lal, received BJP membership on May 22 from BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar. On the same day, Gokul Gopinath, former SFI state vice-president and former Thiruvananthapuram district secretary, joined the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram.
Benny Peruvanthanam, former Idukki District Congress Committee (DCC) secretary, joined the BJP on May 23 in a programme held in Idukki district. He received membership from the state president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar.
Welcoming both leaders to the party, Rajeev Chandrasekhar said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development programmes and the state unit’s initiatives like ‘Vikasitha Keralam’ (Developed Kerala) are attracting youths in large numbers.
Adv. Shine Lal stated that he was drawn by the leadership of PM Narendra Modi, the meaningful development programmes of the BJP government, and also the party itself.
Leaders from across the political spectrum joined the BJP at the Idukki North District Convention today, reflecting the growing wave of support for the politics of development.
Welcoming each and every new member to the BJP family. 💐 Together, let’s build a #VikasitaKeralam.… pic.twitter.com/zE2F6HtE8O
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) May 23, 2025
Gokul Gopinath said he had been with the CPM for 17 years. He noted that the CPM now follows a culture of sycophancy. Despite working hard for the party, he said it is now controlled by a power syndicate. They follow ‘marumakkathayam’, a system that gives dominance to the ‘marumakan’. In Malayalam, ‘marumakan’ means son-in-law as well as nephew. He was obviously referring to PWD Minister Mohammed Riyas, son-in-law of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. It is alleged that Riyas, by virtue of being the CM’s son-in-law, wields extraordinary power and enjoys undue superiority.
Many new members joined the BJP at the Idukki South District Convention today, backing PM @narendramodi ji’s development-driven vision for Kerala.
Welcoming everyone to the organization. 💐
കേരളത്തിനായുള്ള പ്രധാനമന്ത്രി നരേന്ദ്ര മോദി ജിയുടെ വികസന ലക്ഷ്യങ്ങളിൽ ആകൃഷ്ടരായി,… pic.twitter.com/aXGgMeNQ2Y
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) May 24, 2025
Social activist and Congress leader Mariyakkutty (88) too joined the BJP on May 22 and received party membership from Rajeev Chandrasekhar at the Vikasitha Keralam programme held in Thodupuzha, Idukki district. She left the Congress and joined the BJP. Mariyakkutty rose to fame in late 2023 when she and her friend Annam Ouseph took to the streets with begging bowls in hand to protest the non-payment of welfare pensions. Mariyakkutty had approached the Kerala High Court regarding the issue.
Welcomed Mariakkutty at the BJP #VikasitaKeralam Convention in Thodupuzha today. She became a symbol of Pinarayi Vijayan’s misrule after being forced to stage a ‘begging’ protest due to delayed welfare pensions.
Her story reflects a larger truth: it is the BJP alone that the… pic.twitter.com/xG2K8tFseK
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) May 23, 2025
Earlier, Organiser weekly featured her story in December 2023, when the High Court strongly objected to the Government of Kerala’s claim that her petition was politically motivated and that they could not pay pension to Mariyakkutty alone. The Court stated that insulting Mariyakkutty was heart-breaking. It asked the government counsel to withdraw the insulting remarks, lest they be recorded in the order. The Court even considered appointing an amicus curiae if necessary. Justice Ramachandran went to the extent of declaring that, in view of the pathetic condition of people like Mariyakkutty, he would not participate in any Christmas celebrations (in 2023).
The Court said it could extend help, if needed, for Mariyakkutty to approach the District Legal Services Authority. It also questioned whether the government had cancelled any of its programmes due to financial crisis. If the government could spend money on the Nava Kerala Sadas, it could not claim lack of funds for the non-payment of pensions. The Court emphasised the importance of pension payments. Around 45 lakh elderly people were not receiving their widow pensions. The Court added that Mariyakkutty was a VIP, not by status, but because she had to move the Court in the absence of any income. The Court had to stand with the citizen. Rs 1,600 may be a trivial amount for the government, but it was significant for Mariyakkutty.
Meanwhile, pro-government circles propagated the narrative that Mariyakkutty was not poor, that she owned land, and her daughter was working abroad. This was carried by Deshabhimani, the Malayalam mouthpiece of the CPM. However, this propaganda was quickly proven false. Deshabhimani was then compelled to withdraw the news and publish a regret note, as Mariyakkutty declared her intention to take legal action against the CPM’s media outlet.
At that time, the BJP was the only party to support Mariyakkutty and Annamma Ouseph.
Last year, C. Reghunath, former Kannur DCC general secretary, joined the BJP and contested the 2024 Lok Sabha elections as a party candidate.
In January 2024, P.C. George, former MLA, merged his Janapaksham Party into the BJP. That same year, Congress leader Padmaja Venugopal—daughter of the Congress veteran and four-time Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, and sister of senior Congress leader K. Muraleedharan—resigned from the party and joined the BJP.
These developments clearly indicate that the BJP is emerging as a major political force in the state and may soon become the ruling party.
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