Thrissur (Kerala), March 16 MLA C C Mukundan, who was expelled from the CPI, joined the BJP here on Monday.
Mukundan was expelled from the Left party after he expressed his displeasure with the CPI for not considering him again for the SC-reserved Nattika constituency.
He had previously been in talks with the Congress and had even met leaders in New Delhi.
Mukundan joined the BJP at an event held at the party's office in Thrissur.
He said that the BJP is a party that has the potential to contribute to the protection of the interests of SC/ST communities.
"I joined the party with the expectation that there would be more changes. My biggest desire is to protect the interests of the people and provide them with better facilities," he said.
Mukundan said that he had taken an oath to remain loyal to the BJP.
He said that he would contest the election and would emerge victorious.
He admitted that he had met Congress leaders but did not know why the move did not work out.
Last week, Mukundan criticized the CPI leadership for not giving him another chance and instead choosing former MLA Geetha Gopi to contest the election at Nattika.
BJP senior leaders A N Radhakrishnan and B Gopalakrishnan were present at the event where Mukundan joined the party.