Kochi: In an embarrassing movement, the BJP in Kerala held a function to welcome prominent Congress leader Shashi Tharoor’s aunt and her husband into the party fold although they were for a long time supporting the saffron party.
At the function, BJP’s Kerala president P S Sreedharan Pillai welcomed 14 new members from diverse backgrounds into the party and called them the cream of Kochi. He honoured them with a party shawl in the media’s presence. However, Tharoor’s aunt Sobhana Sasikumar and her husband Sasikumar said they had been long time supporters of the BJP and wondered why such a function was organised to welcome them into the party.
Addressing the function, Pillai hailed the historic background of Tharoors family in Palakkad district and said people from such backgrounds becoming part of the BJP have to be welcomed. The duo who had arrived at the venue asked the media to put the question to BJP leaders as to why the function was held and left the place.
Reacting to their statement, BJP Ernakulam district general secretary K S Shaiju said the function was organised to give membership to new people. According to Congress sources, Tharoor is likely to be the party candidate from the Thiruvanathapuram constituency which he currently represents.