People are surprised when Suresh Gopi, who entered politics from the acting field, praised Congress leader and late Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. He said ahat he viewed Indira Gandhi as “bharathathinte mathavu” (Bharat Mata). Moreover, he also praised veteran Congress leader from the state and late Chief Minister K Karunakaran. He called him the `father of Congress’ in the state. Further, The actor-turned-politician also hailed the administrative capabilities of the Congress veteran and dubbed him as a “courageous administrator” of his generation.
Speaking to reporters after visiting Karunakaran’s memorial, “Murali Mandiram” in Punkunnam, Thrissur, Gopi emphasized his deep respect for both Karunakaran and Marxist veteran E K Nayanar, whom he described as his “political gurus”,
He further said though he had expressed his desire to visit the Murali Mandiram in 2019 also, the veteran’s daughter Padmaja Venugopal, who recently defected to the BJP, discouraged him due to political reasons.
Interestingly, Suresh Gopi had won Thrissur Lok Sabha constituency by dashing the hopes of Karunakaran’s son and Congress leader K Muraleedharan, who finished third in a triangular contest in the April 26 polls.
Urging mediapersons not to add any political connotation to his visit to Karunakaran memorial, the BJP leader said he came here to pay his respects to his “guru”. He recounted his close personal relationships with Karunakaran and his wife, Kalyanikutty Amma, as well as with Nayanar and his wife, Sarada Teacher.
Later, Suresh Gopi also visited the famous Lourde Mata Church in the city and offered prayers. He and his family’s presentation of a golden crown to the idol of St Mary during his daughter’s marriage was used by his political opponents to target him, alleging that it was not made of yellow metal but copper.
