Thiruvananthapuram, March 22 CPI(M) leader Smitha Sundaresan joined the BJP on Sunday, alleging a decline in values within her former party.
The daughter of CPI(M) leader Sundaresan from the Thiruvananthapuram district, she was serving as a councillor in the Varkala Block Panchayat and was a member of the party’s Varkala Area Committee.
She was welcomed into the BJP by state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and the party’s state in-charge Prakash Javadekar at an event held here.
Speaking to reporters, Sundaresan said she had resigned from her post as Block Panchayat councillor to join the BJP.
"The decline in values within the CPI(M) prompted me to join the BJP. More importantly, I was also drawn to the unprecedented development initiatives undertaken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," she said.
She alleged that personal interests and bias have become prevalent within the CPI(M).
"When it comes to cases involving vested interests, the CPI(M) does not adhere to its ideology and rules," she added.
There are indications that Sundaresan may be fielded from the Varkala constituency, with the BJP potentially taking over the seat from NDA ally BDJS.