Thiruvananthapuram |CPI(M) leader Smitha Sundaresan on Sunday joined the BJP, alleging erosion of values in her former party.

Daughter of CPI(M) leader Sundaresan from Thiruvananthapuram district, she was serving as a councillor in the Varkala Block Panchayat and was a member of the party’s Varkala Area Committee.

She was welcomed into the BJP by state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar and party’s state in-charge Prakash Javadekar at an event held here.

Speaking to reporters, Sundaresan said she had resigned from her post as Block Panchayat councillor to join the BJP.

"It is value erosion in CPI(M) that prompted me to join BJP. More than that, I was also attracted by the unparalleled development works initiated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi," she said.

She alleged that personal interests and bias have become common within the CPI(M).

"When it comes to cases involving vested interests, CPI(M) does not adhere to its ideology and rules," she added.

There are indications that Sundaresan may be fielded from the Varkala constituency, with the BJP possibly taking over the seat from NDA ally BDJS.