Khushbu Sundar quits Congress

Actor-turned politician Khushbu Sundar on Monday resigned from the primary membership of the Congress. According to reports, Khushbu Sundar is likely to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) today.

In a letter to Congress chief Sonia Gandhi, Khushbu Sundar conveyed her decision to quit the party, saying that she was being “pushed and suppressed” by “few elements” seated at a higher level within the party.

“A few elements seated at a higher level within the party, people who have no connectivity with the ground reality or public recognition are dictating terms and people like me who wanted to work for the party sincerely, are being pushed and suppressed,” Khushbu Sundar said.

Meanwhile, Congress has dropped Khushbu Sundar as its spokesperson.

Sundar, who has been with the Congress for close to six years, is in Delhi today and may meet BJP’s central team. The developments come ahead of Tamil Nadu Assemble elections that are slated to be held next year.

Khushbu Sundar had first sparked off rumours of a rift with the Congress in July when she backed the Center’s new National Education Policy. She had even tweeted an apology to pary leader Rahul Gandhi for her differing views.

In a cryptic tweet on October 11, Khushbu Sundar said, “Many see a change in me. Well as you age, you evolve n grow, learn n unlearn, perceptions change you understand the difference between right n wrong. Change is inevitable (sic)

The popular star has hopped parties in the past. She had joined the DMK in 2010 when DMK was in power, particularly after she took up the role of late rationalist leader Periyar’s wife Maniamani in a biographical film funded by the Tamil Nadu government. However four years later, she left DMK and joined the Congress in 2014 saying that she finally found her home.

With state elections eight months away, BJP could use Ms Sundar’s star power to their advantage in Tamil Nadu. The party doesn’t have any charismatic leader in the state yet. This also comes at a time the ruling AIADMK is uncomfortable about continuing its alliance with the BJP following its collapse in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls and speculation that the national party could tacitly back superstar Rajinikanth who is likely to launch his party ahead of the polls.