Chennai, Nov 9 (IANS) The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Monday suffered a jolt in Tamil Nadu when its National Secretary and Rajya Sabha MP S. Thirunavukkarasar joined the Congress.
The Congress announced the development in New Delhi in the presence of Home Minister P. Chidambaram, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad as well as Tamil Nadu Congress Committee president K.V. Thankabalu.

“He has joined our party unconditionally. His admission was approved by Congress president Sonia Gandhi,” Thankabalu told IANS from New Delhi.

Thirunavukkarasar told IANS: “I have resigned from the primary membership of the BJP and also from the Rajya Sabha. I have joined the Congress party unconditionally.”

Elaborating the reason for quitting the BJP, he said: “The state leadership of BJP is not keen on developing the party. Further excluding 40 percent of the population consisting of minorities, it is difficult to grow a party here. Hence I decided to quit.”

He denied that protecting business interests was the reason for joining the Congress.

Since his defeat in the Lok Sabha election in May which Thirunavukkarasar contested from Ramananthapuram, the BJP was expecting his departure.

Thankabalu said: “He is known for organisational skills. His talent will help the party to grow in the state.”