Comedy actors Dharmajan, Ramesh Pisharody join Congress in Kerala

Comedy actors Dharmajan, Ramesh Pisharody have joined the Congress party in Kerala. While Ramesh Pisharody has clarified that he would not contest the elections, many speculate that Dharmajan would contest as UDF candidate from Balussery constituency in Kozhikode.

Thiruvananthapuram: Dharmajan and Ramesh Pisharody, the comedy actors in Mollywood have joined the Congress party ahead of Kerala Assembly Elections. It is also speculated that Dharmajan may contest as UDF candidate from Balussery in Kozhikode district. Dharmajan, a native of Ernakulam, has reached Balussery and has been meeting Congress leaders and workers in the region.

Meanwhile, Dharmajan’s close friend Pisharody participated in the Aishwarya Kerala Yathra led by the Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala. Nevertheless, Pisharody has clarified that he is not going to contest in the elections this time. The duo's hilarious performances have wide viewership and adoration among Keralites.

After film director and actor Major Ravi graced the Aishwarya Kerala Yathra, Pisharody’s participation in the UDF’s Kerala tour is expected to further boost the Congress. Dharmajan had announced his entry to politics and his stand on contesting in the elections earlier.

As the election dates would be announced soon, Kerala politics has been brewing up with the protests staged by the Opposition parties. The latest weapon procured by the Opposition parties against the ruling Left - the backdoor appointments controversy - has been turning the State capital a venue for large scale, intense protests.

The members of the Youth Congress and Yuva Morcha, the youth wings of the Congress and the BJP respectively, have been participating along with the job seekers and Public Service Commission (PSC) rank holders in their agitations against the Government. While legislators Shafi Parambil and Sabarinathan led the strike in front of the Secretariat, Yuva Morcha workers staged a march to the Secretariat. The agitation organised by the Opposition parties and their youth wings continues to be strong in front of the PSC office at the State capital.

Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has slammed the Opposition’s strike. The CM listed out the statistics and information in the press meet. He said it is practically impossible to offer jobs to all those who are enlisted or shortlisted by the PSC. The CM also said as the elections are ahead, the protesting job seekers must understand the Opposition’s politics and the people of Kerala should realise the Opposition's double standards.

Even as the LDF and the UDF hang on to the ‘appointment controversy’, the BJP leaders met at Thrissur to formulate poll strategies for the party. Union Minister Prahlad Joshi, BJP’s in charge of elections in Kerala, participated in the meeting. After the meeting, Joshi said, the BJP is growing in Kerala. The BJP party would present an amazing change in the Assembly elections.

Reacting to queries on BJP State president K Surendran’s candidature, Joshi said, the Core Committee and the national leadership of the BJP would decide whether K Surendran should contest in the election. The BJP’s election tour in the State led by State president K Surendran would be inaugurated by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adhithyanath on February 20.