'Begging bowl' protestor Mariyakutty joins BJP; welcomed to party by Rajeev Chandrasekhar

THODUPUZHA: Mariyakutty (88) of Adimali, who took to the streets to protest against the suspension of welfare pension by taking out a begging bowl, has left the Congress and joined the BJP. Mariyakutty accepted BJP membership from state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar at the Idukki North District Committee's Vikasita Keralam convention held at the Thodupuzha Papputty Hall yesterday evening. The membership was granted after Rajeev Chandrasekhar received Mariyakutty by donning a shawl.

It was news in November 2023 that Mariyakutty and her friend Annamma had taken up a begging bowl and staged a protest in Adimali following the continuous suspension of welfare pension. Last year, KPCC President K Sudhakaran took the initiative and built a house for Mariyakutty in Adimali. She had actively participated in the Congress' campaign rallies in the parliamentary elections. Mariyakutty had also attended the function held when Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Thrissur last year.