Shaji V. Joseph, brother of Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) at a function held at Puthiyatheru in Kannur on Thursday. He was formally inducted into the party by Sadanand Shet Tanavade, former Goa BJP president and Rajya Sabha MP.
Addressing the rally, Mr. Joseph said he was attracted by Narendra Modi’s “development-oriented politics” and hence decided to quit the Congress and join the BJP. He started his public life in Kerala Students Union (KSU) in 1975 at Ulikkal panchayat high school and later served as president of Ulikkal mandalam of Youth Congress and Congress. He remained an active party worker for years.
He argued that the “anti-development stance and the politics of appeasement” had become intolerable. He claimed that he did not seek any position and that his decision was based on ideological conviction.
Mr. Joseph also clarified that there was no difference of opinion with Mr. Sunny Joseph, adding that changing political stance is a matter of personal freedom.
Published – 19 March 2026 20:52 IST
