Thiruvananthapuram: Local CPM leader Madhu Mullassery, who was expelled from the party for staging a walkout from its area conference, joined the BJP on Tuesday.

"I have decided to leave the party for which I had worked for 42 years as it is difficult to work alongside the district secretary Joy," Madhu Mullassery told media.

He claimed that he was mistreated by CPM district secretary Joy, and alleged that Joy only cares for his own interests and positions within the party, and accused him of creating divisiveness at the district level.

Later, BJP's Thiruvananthapuram district president V V Rajesh and other party leaders met the former CPM leader at his residence ahead of his joining the saffron party.

Union Minister Suresh Gopi and other BJP leaders welcomed him into the party. Gopi placed a shawl in the party's saffron colours around Mullassery and wished him all the best.

Meanwhile, the CPM said the act of expulsion was prompted by Mullassery's alleged violations of party principles and his role in tarnishing the party's image in public.