S. Rajendran, senior CPM leader and former three-time MLA from Idukki, joined the BJP on January 18 at Mararji Bhavan, Tiruvananthapuram, the BJP state headquarters. He accepted BJP membership from the state president, Rajeev Chandrasekhar. Along with him, CPI Idukki district leader Gurunathan and CPM Local Committee member Santosh also joined the BJP.
Speaking on the occasion, Rajendran said that he was active in party activities for last 15 years. Now, he has lost confidence in the party. He said that he had asked the party not to trouble him, but the party did not pay heed. Rajendran said he believes that the BJP can materialise development in the plantation sector.
Rajendran had won the Devikulam Assembly constituency for three consecutive terms. He was suspended from the CPM for his alleged efforts to defeat the LDF (CPM-led Left Democratic Front) candidate A. Raja in the 2021 Assembly elections.
Rajendran won the elections in 2006, 2011 and 2016 consecutively. In 2021, the CPM denied the party ticket to him to contest again and nominated A. Raja in that constituency.
വികസിത കേരളം എന്ന ആശയത്തിൽ ആകൃഷ്ടനായി മുൻ ദേവികുളം എംഎൽഎയും മുതിർന്ന സിപിഎം നേതാവുമായിരുന്ന ശ്രീ എസ് രാജേന്ദ്രൻ ബിജെപിയിൽ ചേർന്നു.
മാരാർജി ഭവനിൽ നടന്ന ചടങ്ങിൽ ബിജെപി സംസ്ഥാന അധ്യക്ഷൻ ശ്രീ രാജീവ് ചന്ദ്രശേഖർ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ പൊന്നാടയണിയിച്ച് പാർട്ടിയിലേക്ക് സ്വീകരിച്ചു.… pic.twitter.com/BVgKKLxePL
— BJP KERALAM (@BJP4Keralam) January 18, 2026
Rajendran alleges that he was not taken back into the party even after the tenure of his suspension was over and that the party kept troubling him.
A few days earlier, Rajendran had said that he had discussions with Rajeev Chandrasekhar and that he would join the BJP. He said that he was not joining the BJP due to any personal motives, but for the benefit and welfare of his district, Idukki.
As the Assembly election is imminent, more and more leaders and workers of various parties, including the CPM and CPI, are expected to join the BJP.
Recently, senior and prominent CPM spokesman Reji Lukose quit the party and joined the BJP. Many CPM leaders are leaving the party and joining the BJP in several parts of the state. Observers believe that if this trend continues, Tripura may be repeated here in a few years.
