Padmaja Venugopal

Some Lesser Known Facts About Padmaja Venugopal

• In 2001, she was appointed as the chairperson of the Kerala Tourism Development Corporation. ^[5]The Telegraph

• Before Padmaja Venugopal entered active politics, she used to manage a garment export business. Back then, she also owned a recording studio and produced various Malayalam television soaps.

• In 2004, Padmaja Venugopal was a member of the Indian National Trade Union Congress and headed 15 other trade unions such as the nurses union.

• In 2004, Padmaja Venugopal contested the Lok Sabha elections from the Mukundapuram (now Chalakudy) constituency on a ticket of the Indian National Congress party but lost.

• In 2016, Padmaja Venugopal contested the Kerala Assembly elections from the Thrissur constituency on a ticket of the Indian National Congress party. However, she was defeated by V S Sunilkumar of the Communist Party of India with a margin of 6,987 votes.

  

• On 27 April 2016, she appeared as a guest on the JB Junction show hosted by John Brittas along with her husband. ^[6]YouTube – Kairali TV

• Padmaja Venugopal was the first woman who served as the Thrissur DCC (District Congress Committee) president in 2020.

• In 2021, Padmaja Venugopal contested the Kerala Assembly elections from the Thrissur constituency on a ticket of the Indian National Congress party. However, she was defeated by P Balachandran of the Communist Party of India with a margin of 946 votes.

  

• After facing defeat in the 2021 Kerala Assembly elections, she alleged that it was some of the members of the Congress itself who plotted against her following which she complained about the issue to senior party workers but no action was taken. ^[7]The Indian Express

• She can fluently speak 3 languages, Malayalam, English, and Hindi.

• In January 2024, she served as a member of the Congress party’s political affairs committee.

• In an interview, Padmaja Venugopal explained the reason why she shifted from the Congress Party to the Bharatiya Janata Party and said,
  

  I was not happy with Congress party for so many years, especially since the last Assembly Election. I complained with the High Command but there was no response. I came to see the leadership two or three times, they didn’t give me an appointment. In the Congress party there is no leadership. I have great respect to madam Soniaji, but I can’t see her. That is why I took this decision. Modiji is a very strong leader and that is the only reason I came to this party.”

  

• After Padmaja’s decision to quit Congress, her brother, Kannoth Muraleedharan, announced that he had cut off all ties with his sister since he was very disappointed with her decision. In an interview, while talking about his sister’s decision, he said,
  

  The soul of my father will not condone her. She is my sister but there is no compromise. I am snapping all ties with her. The voters of Vadakara knew me very well. They know that I am fighting steadfastly against the BJP and its communalism.”