A prominent Left face in media debates in Kerala Thursday joined the BJP, accusing the CPI(M) of creating a communal divide in the state.
Reji Lukose, who joined BJP, has been a firebrand defender of CPI(M) in media debates. State BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar inducted him into the party at a function held in the BJP state headquarters.
“For the last 35 years, I’ve been with the CPI(M). I’m pained over the ideological deviation of the CPI(M) in the recent month,” he told the media after his induction. “The party is now trying to create communal divide in the state. Persons like me stood with CPI(M) over the years because of that party’s fight against communalism. However, recently the party has been supporting communalism, which is disturbing.”
He claimed to have been moved by BJP’s “development agenda”.
“If we go ahead with the outdated ideology, Kerala will soon turn into an old age home,” he claimed. “The development that has taken place in North India has surprised me. Henceforth, I will be the voice of BJP.”
Lukose, a former international correspondent, has been the face of CPI (M) in media debates in the last decade.
Senior CPI(M) leader and minister V N Vasavan attempted to downplay the development, claiming Lukose never held any post in the CPI(M).
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“There are people who go in search of green pastures. Such attritions will not impact the LDF, which is going to fight the elections highlighting development and welfare,” he said.
