‘Erumeli remarks were a mistake’: BJP Kerala leader PC George backtracks, says none stole funds

Kottayam (Kerala): Following a row over his speech regarding BJP election funds, P C George has executed a U-turn. He stated that no one had stolen even a single penny from the election fund.

Earlier, at a BJP meeting in Erumeli, he had alleged that election funds in Poonjar had been siphoned off. George had claimed that the party spent ₹4.45 crore in Poonjar and that revealing the account details would embarrass party workers. He had also alleged that although ₹31,000 was requested for each polling booth, many did not receive the money, pointing the finger at Saji Kurikkad, who was in charge of the funds.

As these remarks hit the headlines, P C George issued a retraction. George clarified that his statements in Erumeli originated from a misunderstanding. He noted that while a candidate is permitted to spend up to ₹40 lakh in an Assembly constituency, his actual expenditure did not reach that limit.

“What I said in Erumeli was wrong. Saji Kurikkad is a retired Higher Secondary school teacher who would not steal a single penny. That is the truth. I apologise for the statements made in Erumeli," he said.

Adding that there was no question of him leaving the BJP, George said, “I have only one father, and that is the respected Narendra Modi. There is no question of switching sides.”

He further stated that his defeat was caused by the Christian community deciding en masse to support the UDF.