Thrissur, March 16 -- Nattika MLA CC Mukundan, who left the Communist Party of India (CPI), joined the BJP on Monday ahead of the Kerala Assembly elections.

Mukundan took party membership at the BJP district office and is expected to be fielded as the party's candidate from Nattika.

After joining, he said it was the "happiest day" of his political career and praised the BJP for working for the welfare of the poor.

Speaking to ANI, Mukundan said, "BJP works for the welfare of the poor in India... This is the happiest day of my political career."

Party leader Adv B Gopalakrishnan welcomed him, noting that Mukundan recognised Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a true development leader.

"He contested the election in Nattika constituency as...