Kerala BJP leaders ‘interested in making money, not winning elections’, actor Devan says after exit

KOLLAM : Malayalam actor and politician Devan has accused BJP leaders in Kerala of being more interested in making money than winning elections, days after resigning from the party and signalling a possible move to actor Vijay’s Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK).

Devan, who served as a BJP state vice-president, said he had worked aggressively to strengthen the party but became increasingly frustrated after the leadership failed to support his plans.

“I think they are not interested in winning an election. They are interested in making money, which I objected to,” Devan told reporters in Kollam.

He alleged that his objections resulted in the leadership restricting his role within the party.

Devan said he began considering leaving the BJP during 2024-25 after concluding that his political ambitions could not be realised within the organisation. He subsequently resigned from the BJP.

The actor said representatives of TVK approached him following his resignation and asked whether he would be interested in joining the Vijay-led party.

Devan said he later held discussions with senior TVK leaders in Chennai through an online meeting and agreed in principle to join the party. He has, however, sought a separate meeting with Vijay before making a final decision.

“They have given me a date on September 10 to meet him. So I’m waiting for that opportunity,” Devan said. “I’ll be, most probably, with TVK.”

The development could give TVK a prominent face in Kerala as Vijay’s party looks to expand its political footprint beyond Tamil Nadu.

Devan has been involved in politics for several years. He founded the Kerala People’s Party, which was later renamed the Nava Kerala People’s Party, before merging it with the BJP in 2021. He was subsequently appointed a vice-president of the BJP’s Kerala unit.

His latest remarks represent one of his strongest public criticisms of the BJP leadership in Kerala since leaving the party.