Khushbu says unhappy in Cong, mum on move to BJP

Khushbu says unhappy in Cong, mum on move to BJP

Jaya.Menon@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.10.2020

Amid persistent rumours of her joining the BJP, Congress national spokeswoman and actor Khushbu has conveyed to the party high command her unhappiness over the party leadership in Tamil Nadu. “Leaders of both Congress and the BJP have reached out to me,” Khushbu told TOI on Sunday, adding that she met AICC general secretary K C Venugopal three days ago to convey her angst.

In recent weeks, Khushbu had consistently denied rumours about her switching parties, saying she had been taking part in Congress meetings. She denied there was any political significance in her husband Sundar meeting TN BJP chief L Murugan last month. On Sunday, Khushbu indicated she had been given a raw deal by the Tamil Nadu Congress Committee leadership but declined to confirm or deny if she was considering joining the BJP.

“The question is hypothetical,” Khushbu replied when asked about her joining the BJP. “I met Mr Venugopal and discussed the problems with him,” Khushbu said. When contacted, Venugopal said, “She told me she was having problems with the local leadership. We promised her that we will address her grievances and give her more responsibilities. She discussed with me her political ideology. I believe we can persuade her to remain with us.” TNCC president K S Alagiri said “I don’t believe these rumours”.

On Saturday, Khushbu had tweeted “Many see a change in me. Well as you age, you evolve n grow, learn n unlearn, perceptions change, likes n dislikes too, thoughts n ideas take a new shape, dreams are new-…change is inevitable.”

In July, the actor had set political tongues wagging when she welcomed the Narendra Modi government’s New Education Policy, which her party had stoutly opposed. Later, in a tweet, she denied rumours of her joining the BJP. "Sanghis can relax, pls do not rejoice. I am not moving to BJP. My opinion might be different from my party but I am an individual with a thinking mind of my own. Yes, #NEP2020 is flayed n flawed at some places, but I still feel we can look at the change with a positivity,” she tweeted. Later, she apologised to AICC leader Rahul Gandhi for her “contrary” views.

Khushbu took the political plunge in May 2010 by joining DMK. She campaigned for the party in the 2011 assembly elections and again in the 2014 Lok Sabha elections after which she quit saying her work was not recognized. She joined Congress shortly thereafter as the party’s spokeswoman.