Kerala BJP: ‘Metroman’ Sreedharan set to join party

Well-known engineer confirms decision, says development of industries in state essential

Thiruvananthapuram: In a surprise move, the Kerala state unit of the BJP appears to have managed a prized catch, with its state president K. Surendran on Thursday announcing that ‘Metroman’ E. Sreedharan will be joining the BJP.

“Metroman has informed that he will be joining the BJP by taking the party membership when the state-wide yatra (led by Surendran) reaches Malappurram district (the home district of Sreedharan),” said Surendran.

Surendran’s state-wide yatra begins next week from Kasargode.

Sreedharan confirmed that he will be joining the BJP. "Yes, I will be joining BJP. Other political parties in Kerala are just working in the interest of their respective parties and failed to do any good to Kerala," he said.

When asked whether he would contest the upcoming assembly polls, he said: "If the BJP asks me to contest I will. It is for them to decide the constituency. A lot of development works can be done and I hope to do it by joining BJP."

He said there are many development-oriented works in infrastructure and industries that need to be carried out in the state.

"If Kerala has to develop then its infrastructure and industries have to develop," he stated.

The 88-year-old hugely popular engineer is known for his widespread contribution in the fields of building iconic infrastructure projects.

Sreedharan is presently leading a retired life at his home.

He was the livewire behind not just the Kochi Metro, Kerala’s first metro project, which has become a hugely popular form of transport, but also the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation or DMRC.