Actor S. Devan announced on Sunday that he would resign as Kerala BJP state vice-president and from the party’s primary membership. He made the announcement from the stage during a public programme held at the Kanachikulangara Devi Temple in Alappuzha.
Devan had been associated with the BJP for around five years and had been active in the party’s activities in the state. He said his experience after joining the BJP had made him realise that his political thinking and his role within the party did not align with the political path he wanted to pursue.
Several prominent figures, including Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP Yogam) general secretary Vellappally Natesan, were present at the temple programme. BJP leader B. Radhakrishna Menon also attended the event.
At the end of his address, Devan announced his decision to leave the BJP and said his political thinking had been influenced by the ideals, principles and social programmes of Sree Narayana Guru. He said his five years of experience with the BJP had made it clear to him that he was unable to move forward in accordance with his political ideology and thinking.
Devan said he had prepared his resignation letter for both the post of state vice-president and the BJP’s primary membership.
During the programme, Devan also referred to his earlier political career. He said he had contested elections in 2004 and 2006, but lost both contests. He said he decided to publicly announce his decision during the temple programme.
BJP leader B. Radhakrishna Menon responded to Devan’s resignation decision and specifically questioned the choice of platform for making the announcement. Menon said he was not clear about why Devan had decided not to continue working with the BJP.
Menon also said the party was working towards its goal of making India a developed and globally b country by 2047. However, he said the platform of the temple programme was not appropriate for announcing a resignation.
Devan’s political career did not begin with the BJP. He had previously formed his own political party, the Kerala People’s Party. In 2020, the party was renamed the Nava Kerala People’s Party.
In 2021, following a meeting with Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Devan’s party merged with the BJP. Following the merger, Devan joined the BJP and was given the responsibility of state vice-president in the Kerala state organisation.
