File photo of three-time MLA and CPI(M) leader S. Rajendran who has joined the BJP on January 18, 2026. Photo: Wikipedia
Three-time MLA and CPI(M) leader from Idukki district S. Rajendran has joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
The move comes ahead of the Assembly elections in Kerala. Mr. Rajendran accepted the party membership from BJP State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday (January 18, 2026).
Mr. Rajendran had represented the Devikulam constituency in Idukki district as s CPI(M) member in 2006, 2011 and 2016. He was also a member of the party’s district committee. In recent years, Mr. Rajendran’s relations with the CPI(M) has been far from cordial.
In January 2022, the State secretariat of the CPI(M) had suspended Mr. Rajendran from the primary membership of the party for a year following allegations that he had tried to defeat the party candidate A. Raja in the Devikulam constituency.
In the CPI(M), Mr. Rajendran was viewed as a district-level leader who had influence in the plantation sector and the Tamil linguistic minority population in Idukki district.
On his change of party, Mr. Rajendran said he felt that a new political intervention was needed to address the problems of the plantation sector.
Of late, rumors were strong that Mr. Rajendran was gravitating towards the BJP. Speculations had gained strength after he met senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar in New Delhi last year.
Along with Mr. Rajendran, CPI leader Gurunathan who was Chinnakanal grama panchayat president, and Santhosh, a CPI(M) member, also accepted party membership from Mr. Chandrasekhar. On February 8, hundreds of people will take yhe party membership at Munnar, the BJP said.
Three-pronged campaign
Over the next 90 days, the BJP will focus on a three-pronged campaign focusing on the themes of developed Kerala, protection of faith and safe Kerala. These three themes are of prime importance for the progress of the State, Mr. Chandrasekhar said.
The majority Hindu community in Kerala was the poorest community with the lowest per capita land and house ownership. This issue should be discussed in the upcoming elections, he said. He also urged the public to reject the Congress’s nexus with the Jama’at e Islami.
Published – January 18, 2026 12:45 pm IST
