Expelled Communist Party of India (CPI) leader and sitting Nattika MLA CC Mukundan joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) here on Monday, marking a dramatic political shift ahead of the Kerala assembly elections and setting the stage for a high-stakes contest in the Nattika constituency.
Mr. Mukundan formally accepted BJP membership at the party’s Thrissur district committee office where he was welcomed by BJP leaders led by district president Justin Jacob. National Democratic Alliance (NDA) state vice-president AN Radhakrishnan wrapped Mr Mukundan in a shawl to formally welcome him to the party.
Mr. Mukundan, a veteran CPI leader who has been active in politics for nearly four decades, has represented Nattika in the Assembly for the past five years. He was expelled from the CPI after announcing that he would contest the elections as an independent candidate when the party decided to field Geetha Gopi in the constituency.
In BJP symbol
After joining the BJP, Mr. Mukundan said he would prefer to contest the election on the BJP party symbol from Nattika. “I will remain loyal to the BJP. This movement is working for the upliftment of the poor and I will stand firm with it,” he said.
Calling the day one of the happiest in his political life, Mr Mukundan said the BJP “received him with open hearts”. “It is part of my fight. I will remain loyal to the party that supported me,” he added.
Line “Payment point”.
Mr. Mukundan also reiterated his controversial claim that the CPI had turned Nattika headquarters into a “paying post”. “I stand by what I said. I will tell people more about corruption in the CPI during the election campaign,” he said, revealing the names of those who “betrayed” him.
He claimed that he fell out of favor with the party leadership because he refused to become “an instrument for collecting money for the party”.
Mr. Mukundan tried to secure entry into the Congress after leaving the CPI. He reportedly held discussions in Delhi with KPCC president Sunny Joseph and senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala with the support of former Thrissur DCC president. However, the Congress leadership refused to accommodate him and hence he opted for the BJP.
BJP leaders hope that the entry of a sitting MLA with strong local networks and political experience could boost the party’s prospects in Nattica. Mr Mukundan’s move is also seen as a setback for the Left in Nattica, where the election is now shaping up to be a tighter multi-party contest.
Published – 16 March 2026 20:48 IST
