Thrissur (Kerala), Union Minister Suresh Gopi on Wednesday described former PM Indira Gandhi as "Mother of India" and late Congress Chief Minister K Karunakaran as a "courageous administrator".
The BJP leader also called Karnakaran and Marxist veteran E K Nayanar as his "political gurus".
Gopi was speaking to reporters after visiting Karunakaran's memorial "Murali Mandiram" located at Punkunnam here.
Interestingly, Suresh Gopi had won the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, dashing the hopes of Karunakaran's son and Congress leader K Muraleedharan, who had finished third in a triangular contest in the April 26 elections.
Urging media persons not to attach any political meaning to his visit to the Karunakaran memorial, the BJP leader said he was here to pay his respects to his "guru".He said that like Nayanar and his wife Saradha Teacher, he also has a close relationship with Karunakaran and his wife Kalyanikutty Amma.
He visited Nayanar's home in Kannur on 12 June and renewed his relationship with his family members.
Gopi said that while he looked upon Indira Gandhi as "Bharathathinte Mathavu" (Mother of India), Karunakaran was to him "the father of the Congress party in the state".
He said calling Karunakaran the "father" of Congress in Kerala is not disrespect to the founders or co-founders of the southern state's oldest party.
The actor-turned-politician also praised the veteran Congress leader's administrative abilities and termed him the "courageous administrator" of his generation.He further said that though he had expressed his desire to visit Murali Mandiram in 2019 too, the veteran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal, who recently joined the BJP, discouraged him due to political reasons.
Later, Suresh Gopi also visited the famous Lourde Mata Church of the city and offered prayers.
The gold crown that he and his family presented to the statue of St. Mary during his daughter's wedding was used by his political opponents to target him, alleging that it was made of copper and not yellow metal. Was.
Gopi opened BJP's account in Kerala by winning Thrissur Lok Sabha seat.
Thrissur saw a triangular contest for the Lok Sabha elections, with a close contest between the major candidates of Congress, BJP and CPI.
The BJP leader also called Karnakaran and Marxist veteran E K Nayanar as his "political gurus".
Gopi was speaking to reporters after visiting Karunakaran's memorial "Murali Mandiram" located at Punkunnam here.
Interestingly, Suresh Gopi had won the Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency, dashing the hopes of Karunakaran's son and Congress leader K Muraleedharan, who had finished third in a triangular contest in the April 26 elections.
Urging media persons not to attach any political meaning to his visit to the Karunakaran memorial, the BJP leader said he was here to pay his respects to his "guru".He said that like Nayanar and his wife Saradha Teacher, he also has a close relationship with Karunakaran and his wife Kalyanikutty Amma.
He visited Nayanar's home in Kannur on 12 June and renewed his relationship with his family members.
Gopi said that while he looked upon Indira Gandhi as "Bharathathinte Mathavu" (Mother of India), Karunakaran was to him "the father of the Congress party in the state".
He said calling Karunakaran the "father" of Congress in Kerala is not disrespect to the founders or co-founders of the southern state's oldest party.
The actor-turned-politician also praised the veteran Congress leader's administrative abilities and termed him the "courageous administrator" of his generation.He further said that though he had expressed his desire to visit Murali Mandiram in 2019 too, the veteran's daughter Padmaja Venugopal, who recently joined the BJP, discouraged him due to political reasons.
Later, Suresh Gopi also visited the famous Lourde Mata Church of the city and offered prayers.
The gold crown that he and his family presented to the statue of St. Mary during his daughter's wedding was used by his political opponents to target him, alleging that it was made of copper and not yellow metal. Was.
Gopi opened BJP's account in Kerala by winning Thrissur Lok Sabha seat.
Thrissur saw a triangular contest for the Lok Sabha elections, with a close contest between the major candidates of Congress, BJP and CPI.
