Operation Kamal in Kerala; Former congress leaders Padmini Thomas, Thampanoor Satheesh join BJP

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader and former sports council president Padmini Thomas and former DCC general secretary Thampanoor Satheesh ended their long journey with Congress and changed affiliation to BJP on Thursday. On Wednesday, K Surendran had hinted about 'some' congress leaders waiting to join the saffron party in Kerala.

Both Padmini Thomas and Thampanoor Satheesh attended the inauguration of the BJP election office in Thiruvananthapuram. NDA candidate Rajeev Chandrasekhar, K Surendran and other state leaders were also in attendance. It is reported that Padmini Thomas joined BJP after facing repeated neglect from the Congress party.

Padmini Thomas became the president of the Sports Council during the UDF government. She also had a great rapport with late congress leaders Oommen Chandy and K Karunakaran. In the 2020 local elections, Padmini was considered the mayoral candidate of the Congress from Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation but was later ignored.

On the other hand, Thampanoor Satheesh, the once close aid of K Karunakaran and former DCC general secretary had already left Congress a few days back. Satheesh after leaving Congress harshly criticised KPCC president K Sudhakaran but had then played down options to join BJP and CPM.