NEW DELHI: Former Chief Minister K Karunakaran's daughter and Congress leader Padmaja Venugopal will join the BJP, a recent report said. It is reported that Padmaja will reach the BJP headquarters tomorrow and receive the membership. Padmaja's move is a big setback for the state Congress. Padmaja is currently the secretary of KPCC.

The new development comes at a time when the Congress is going ahead with the Lok Sabha election campaign. Although rumours about Padmaja joining the BJP had been doing rounds since Padmaja arrived in Delhi, she had denied them.

It is reported that BJP's national leaders and others held discussions with Padmaja. Padmaja has not been on good terms with the Congress leaders in Kerala over the past few years. She already knew that she would not get a seat to contest the Lok Sabha elections.