Kochi, 13 November (HS): The BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) got a shot in the arm on Thursday as Sheeba Babu, a Janata Dal leader who is also the standing committee chairperson of Thrissur Municipal Corporation quitting the CPI(M)led front and joining the NDA.

She said she would be contesting as a councilor of the Municipal Corporation as an independent candidate and the NDA has declared that it would support her.

“Though I have been representing my ward for the last three terms, the LDF failed to help me in executing the works which were badly needed in the ward. They even discontinued the primary health center in my ward which was being used by the rich and poor alike. Similarly, the drinking water supply scheme too met the same fate. I have understood that it was not possible to get any cooperation from the other parties and hence my decision to go it alone with the support of the NDA,” Sheeba Babu told reporters at Thrissur on Thursday.

K Hari, branch secretary, of the CPI(M) in Pathanamthitta district announced his resignation from the party and joined the BJP along with his family friends.

“The CPI(M) and CPI have become laughing stocks in Kerala while the Congress is disintegrating faster than expected. The BJP is the party of the future and one does not require any family name to work in the party,” said Hari.

It is impossible for a CPI(M) member to announce his resignation from the party. The precedent is that the party’s district or state leadership would expel him from the party or order his execution which would be performed by the professional killers groomed and maintained by the party. But things are changing at least in southern Kerala.

Hindusthan Samachar / Manohar Yadavatti