Headlines
Not joining politics: Head of Kerala's Ezhava community
Aappuzha (Kerala), Sep 18
Vellapally Natesan,
leader of the powerful Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana - said on Friday
the millions of Ezhavas in Kerala whom the social organisation
represents are not interested to form a political party.
Natesan,
who is SNDP's general secretary, said: "We have said many times that
the SNDP will not form a political party. But some people are hell bent
on spreading this canard and the say that we are going to join the BJP
(led NDA)."
"We are helpless with this sort of campaign because
we do not intend to form a political party," Natesan told reporters at
his home here.
The SNDP owes its allegiance to the great social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.
Over
the years, even though the SNDP claims to pursue a policy of staying
away from the Left and the Congress-led UDF in the state's political
spectrum, it is common knowledge that a majority of the community
members often lend their support to the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front.
Also,
after Prime Minister Narendra Modi assumed office, several overtures
from the state Bharatiya Janata Party unit followed, inviting Natesan
into the NDA fold. It triggered speculation that SNDP will be jumping
into active politics.
Last month, Natesan and his son called on BJP national president Amit Shah.
Also, state BJP president V. Muraleedharan has said the party will welcome SNDP if it decides to form a political party.
"SNDP
has always been in the forefront of fighting the cause of the poor and
downtrodden," Muraleedharan told reporters on Friday.
Experts
argue that with the local bodies polls in November and assembly polls
next year, the BJP is doing its best to improve its 2010 performance in
the local bodies polls, and later gain some ground in the 140-member
Kerala assembly.