The Bharatiya Janata Party welcomed five prominent personalities from Kerala into their party on Saturday night following BJP National President Amit Shah’s speech in Kannur. Former ISRO chairman Madhavan Nair and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) President and KPCC executive committee member G Raman Nair are among the 5 people who joined the BJP.
"I have been working for BJP for quite some time now but yesterday, Amit Shahji formally inducted me to the party. I am interested in Modiji's philosophy of developing India. That's why I want to work with BJP,” Madhavan Nair told TNM.
The other prominent personalities from the state to have joined the BJP are former Women’s Commission member Dr Prameela Devi, JDS district vice-president Karakulam Divakaran Nair and Thomas John from the Malankara Church.
As per reports, Amit Shah welcomed the members by felicitating them with a shawl during a conference held at Hotel Taj Vivanta in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday night.
According to News18, G Raman Nair had earlier voiced his plans to join the BJP. He also said that the stand taken by the BJP in the Sabarimala issue is right, and that he would stand with the BJP.
Pandalam palace executive committee president PG Sasikumar Varma and other representatives of various organisations who were part of protests at Sabarimala are also reported to have met Amit Shah. According to Mathrubhumi, a memorandum was given by the Pandalam palace to Amit Shah, explaining the incidents that took place in Sabarimala.
Earlier on Saturday, during his speech in Kannur, BJP national president Amit Shah said that the BJP cadre will ‘uproot’ the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government in Kerala if it arrested more devotees who protested against women's entry into Sabarimala. Speaking at the inauguration of the BJP District Committee office in Kannur, Shah said that the BJP will stand with devotees across the country.