Thrissur: Union Minister Suresh Gopi commemorated the 108th birth anniversary of former Chief Minister and Congress leader K Karunakaran with a heartfelt Facebook post. Sharing Karunakaran's portrait, the BJP leader addressed him "Dear, my own" alongside a heart emoji, offering prayers.

Karunakaran remained a significant figure in Thrissur, especially during the recently concluded Lok Sabha elections where his son, K Muralidharan, contested against Suresh Gopi as the Congress candidate. Karunakaran's daughter, Padmaja Venugopal, has also been active in politics and switched political allegiance from Congress to join the BJP.

Suresh Gopi also recently sparked a debate by referring to former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi as "Mother of India." He had also likened Karunakaran to the father of Kerala's Congress. The controversy emerged after Gopi's visit to late Chief Minister K Karunakaran's memorial in Thrissur, accompanied by Padmaja Venugopal, where he hailed Indira Gandhi as "bharathathinte mathavu" (mother of India) and described Karunakaran as a courageous administrator.

The actor-turned-politician later clarified that his words were misconstrued by the media, asserting that he intended to express his heartfelt admiration for Indira Gandhi's legacy within the Congress. Addressing reporters, Gopi defended his statement, challenging them on the nuances of language and context.

"What did I say? As far as the Congress is concerned...whether anyone likes it or not... K Karunakaran is the father of the Congress party in Kerala. In India, its mother is Indira Gandhi. I said this from my heart," Suresh Gopi said.

The Minister of State for Petroleum and Tourism, however, continued to lavish praises on Indira Gandhi even after the incident.

"Indira Gandhi is the real architect of India post-independence and until her demise. I have to make these attributions anyway. I cannot forget a person who had worked sincerely for the country only because she belonged to the political rival party," he later added.