Such people join BJP understanding there is power, C K Padmanabhan publicly protests inauguration of convention by Padmaja 

KASARGOD: C K Padmanabhan, a member of the party's national council and former state president, made public his ire in giving too much importance to those who join the BJP from other parties. His public protest was against Padmaja Venugopal, who recently joined the BJP from the Congress, inaugurating the NDA’s Kasargod constituency convention. Padmaja was invited to inaugurate the convention by lighting the lamp at the function held in Kasargod Town Hall. In protest, Padmanabhan, who did not stand up when Padmaja lit the lamp, left the stage before she ended her speech. Reports said Padmanabhan was first invited to inaugurate the convention. He also expressed his displeasure at being removed from inaugurating it.

He later reacted severely and said, ‘BJP has discipline and protocol. Violating it is unacceptable. Such people leave other parties and join the BJP knowing that there is power here. They had accepted all the facilities and benefits from their parent party. It is necessary to make a clear understanding about what post should be given to those who come like this from other parties. Forgetting the activists who have sacrificed when the party was nothing and giving special honours to those who come from other parties, angers them, said Padmanabhan.

However, the BJP district leadership said there is nothing unusual in the incident. They said that Padmaja was invited for the inauguration.