Sat Nov 16 13:41:44 IST 2024: ## Rebel BJP Leader Sandeep Varier Joins Congress; K Muraleedharan Welcomes Him
**Thiruvananthapuram:** Senior Congress leader K Muraleedharan has welcomed the entry of disgruntled BJP leader Sandeep Varier into the Congress party. While acknowledging Varier’s past criticisms of Rahul Gandhi, including controversial statements about the Bharat Jodo Yatra and Gandhi’s hospitalization, Muraleedharan expressed happiness at the new recruit.
Muraleedharan stated that Varier’s joining is a positive development, especially at a time when several Congress leaders are reportedly leaving the party. He jokingly regretted that Varier’s joining came too late to assist in the recent Wayanad campaign for Priyanka Gandhi. He urged Varier to remain committed to the Congress ideology and to the party’s leadership, subtly referencing Varier’s past sharp criticisms.
Muraleedharan also downplayed Varier’s past controversial remarks, suggesting they were made during his time with the BJP and should be considered a matter of the past. He emphasized the importance of staying within the “shop of love” and not seeking refuge in the “shop of hatred” in the coming elections, indirectly urging Varier to remain loyal to the Congress. The statement concludes by acknowledging that many Congress leaders have defected to the BJP in the past, implying that Varier’s shift should be viewed in this broader context.
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