Kerala: One of the greatest engineers of India, ‘Metro Man’, E Sreedharan to join the BJP

Elattuvalapil Sreedharan, popularly known as ‘Metro Man’ is all set to join the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday. The state BJP may also request him to contest the Kerala state assembly elections. He has been critical of the Pinarayi Vijayan led state government in the past.

BJP state president said Sreedharan will be formally inducted into the party during a ‘Vijaya Yathra’ in the coming days.

BJP state president K Surendran announced that E Sreedharan will join BJP ahead of the elections in Kerala and added that Sreedharan will be formally inducted into the party during the ‘Vijaya Yathra’ that will start on February 21.

Sreedharan, who is 89 years old reportedly confirmed that he is joining the BJP. "The news is correct. I am joining the BJP," Metro Man Sreedharan quoted saying.

Talking about his reasons behind joining the BJP, Sreedharan said that both the ruling LDF and Opposition UDF are only interested in their own political growth and not that of Kerala. "In this scenario, it is only the BJP that can do something for the state," said Sreedharan. "It is not a sudden decision. I have been in Kerala for the past decade and wanted to do something for the state. I alone cannot do things. BJP is different and that's why I joined the party,” Sreedharan told the Malayalam newspaper, Manorama.

Sreedharan retired as chief of Delhi Metro on December 31, 2011.