Kerala Assembly elections: CPI rebel MLA C.C. Mukundan joins BJP, eyes Nattika contest

C.C. Mukundan, the rebel MLA who was expelled from the Communist Party of India (CPI), has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), marking a significant political shift ahead of the Assembly elections in Kerala.

Mr. Mukundan formally took BJP membership after arriving at the party’s Thrissur district committee office on Monday. His move comes after reported attempts to join the Congress failed.

The MLA is expected to contest the upcoming election from the Nattika constituency as the BJP candidate. After joining the party, Mr. Mukundan said he would prefer to contest on the BJP’s party symbol.

“I will remain loyal to the BJP. My aim is to work for the poor. This is part of a fight,” Mr. Mukundan said after formally joining the party.

Mr. Mukundan had earlier announced that he would contest the election as an Independent candidate, a move that led to his expulsion from the CPI. The CPI State leadership had already decided to field Geetha Gopi as the party’s candidate from Nattika.

Following the announcement, Mr. Mukundan levelled serious allegations against the CPI leadership, claiming that the party had effectively turned the Nattika seat into a “payment seat.”

“It was not possible to take decisions independently in the CPI. Their interests were imposed on me. Joining the BJP is part of my struggle,” he said.

Three-cornered battle

Mr. Mukundan’s switch is expected to intensify the political contest in Nattika, with the constituency now witnessing a sharper three-cornered battle as the election campaign gathers momentum.