THRISSUR: In a blistering attack on the Congress party, Padmaja Venugopal, daughter of former Chief Minister K. Karunakaran, who recently joined the BJP, revealed that Congress leaders had conspired against her during her candidacy in the state assembly elections under the Congress ticket. These remarks surfaced amidst her brother, Vadakara MP K. Muralidharanโs campaign in the Thrissur constituency.
Speaking to The New Indian, Padmaja Venugopal alleged that leaders from Thrissur had orchestrated her defeat in the 2016 and 2021 assembly elections.
โI faced opposition from certain Congress leaders, whom I wonโt name now, who conspired to ensure my defeat,โ she said to The New Indian. Asked about K. Muralidharanโs prospects in the Thrissur constituency, she predicted his loss and actor Suresh Gopiโs victory. โI question Congressโs decision to field him in Thrissur; he would have had better chances in Vadakara. I am confident Suresh Gopi will emerge victorious,โ she remarked.
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During interactions with the media in Thrissur, Padmaja vehemently countered K. Muralidharanโs remarks, where he labeled her as disengaged from party affairs and a โwork-from-homeโ politician. โHe has switched parties thrice, including joining the NCP.
What authority does he have to advise me? His statements keep changing,โ she retorted. Padmaja also recounted her negative encounters within Congress, highlighting instances where leaders failed to reimburse campaign funds borrowed from her, prompting her to escalate the matter to the central leadership.
โDuring the 2021 assembly elections, DCC president Vincent borrowed Rs 22 lakh from me for Priyanka Gandhiโs campaign in Thrissur. Despite borrowing, they sidelined me during the campaign, denying me the opportunity to campaign alongside Priyanka Gandhi. Later, I learned that funds had already been allocated by the KPCC. I complained with Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi,โ she revealed during her media interaction in Thrissur.
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Padmaja Venugopalโs shift to the BJP has ignited a war of words between the BJP and Congress, with Congress leaders launching personal attacks against her. Thrissur braces for a contentious election campaign as Padmaja rallies support for BJPโs Suresh Gopi, challenging Congressโs K. Muralidharan and CPIโs Pannyan Raveendran.
