The weeks of high-stakes political drama in Idukki finally concluded on Sunday as former CPM heavyweight S Rajendran officially crossed over to the Bharatiya Janata Party. In a ceremony held at the party’s state headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar welcomed Rajendran into the fold, alongside former Chinnakanal panchayat president Gurunathan and local leader Santhosh.
For Rajendran, a three-time MLA who represented Devikulam for 15 years, the move marks a definitive break from a decades-long career in the Left. Addressing the media, an emotional Rajendran spoke of the "distress and regret" he felt over the last few years after being sidelined by the CPM. He claimed that while he never betrayed his former party, it became clear that the door was being held open for his exit. "I requested them not to harm me," he noted, adding that his decision to join the BJP was driven by a desire to finally solve the deep-seated issues plaguing the plantation workers in Munnar and Devikulam.
Rajeev Chandrasekhar echoed these sentiments, stating that the former MLA’s move reflects a growing confidence that only the BJP can address the long-ignored problems of the Idukki region. Rajendran is already being put to work; he is scheduled to lead a major membership drive in Munnar on February 8, where the party expects around 100 new members to join.
The relationship between Rajendran and the CPM had been on life support since the last Assembly elections. The party had accused him of trying to sabotage their official candidate, A Raja, and subsequently suspended him. Even after the suspension period ended, the rift never healed, and Rajendran eventually stopped renewing his membership. He had already signalled his shifting loyalties by campaigning for BJP candidates in local body polls in areas like Idamalakudi.
Despite his move to a new political home, Rajendran was firm on one point: he has no plans to contest the upcoming Assembly elections from Devikulam. He insisted he hasn't placed any personal demands before the BJP leadership, though many are watching to see if the party will eventually pressure its high-profile recruit to return to the ballot box in the near future.
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