Kottayam: Former Kerala Chief Minister K Karunakaran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal, who recently switched over to the BJP from the Congress, expressed her deep admiration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday. She likened him to someone one could cherish as either a father or a brother.

"Narendra Modi is the driving force behind my affiliation with the BJP. While some may argue he lacks a conventional family, we believe his allegiance lies with India. Our affection towards him resembles that of a caring elder brother or a father figure," Padmaja stated during her speech at the election campaign rally for NDA candidate Thushar Vellappally in Kottayam.

Padmaja officially joined the BJP on March 7. Following her move, the late Karunakaran's close aide Thampanoor Satheesh and Asian Games medalist and former president of Kerala Sports Council Padmini Thomas also became BJP members.