The Kerala CPI(M), sitting shocked by the terrible setback it suffered in the recent Assembly bypoll and concerned with the outflow of activists and supporters to the BJP and other parties, is watching the emergence of a new friendship between the influential Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) and the BJP with extreme anxiety.
Vellappally Natesan, general secretary of SNDP, the outfit representing majority of the Hindu lower caste Ezhavas who constitute over 20 per cent of Kerala population, caused enhancement of this anxiety on Wednesday by holding discussions with BJP chief Amit Shah in Delhi. The Ezhava community has so far been considered as the left’s single largest vote-bank in Kerala.
Indicating that the worries of the CPI(M) need not be baseless, Vellappally announced after the meeting that his organisation did not consider the BJP as an untouchable party and that he was ready to cooperate with any force that would safeguard the interests of the SNDP. “I am not mad to say that I won’t cooperate with the BJP when it is ruling the country,” he said.
The CPI(M) had got the first practical indications of the loyalty-shift taking place within the Ezhava community towards the BJP in the June 27 Assembly by-election in Aruvikkara which the left had lost. The voting pattern in the constituency had proved beyond doubt that a large number of Ezhavas had deserted the CPI(M) and voted for the BJP candidate.
Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, State CPI(M) secretary, had recently charged Vellappally of trying to install the trident of Hindutva on the organisation known in the name of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru after Vishwa Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia was seen attending functions organised by the SNDP.
On Wednesday, Kodiyeri said that it would be suicidal for the SNDP to strike an alliance with the BJP. ‘If that happens, the RSS will swallow the SNDP. Such a situation would not be acceptable to the followers of Sree Narayana Guru. If they have any complaints against us, they should make it clear. We are always ready to examine criticism,” he said.
“The CPI(M) need not have any hope of getting the support of the Ezhava community — at least of those who consider Vellappally as leader — anymore. They are moving closer to the Sangh Pariwar very fast. Being a shrewd businessman, Vellappally knows very well where he should invest his resources,” said a former State committee member of the CPI(M).
Concerned about the possibility of losing the Ezhava vote-bank after getting indications from the result of the Aruvikkara by-election, CPI(M)’s Alappuzha district secretary Saji Cheriyan had recently met Vellappally in a bid to mend fences as per the State leadership’s instruction but the effort had ended in a fiasco.
Also, CPI(M) Politbureau member and former State secretary Pinarayi Vijayan had held discussions with Vellappally’s son Thushar Vellappally but this also did not yield any positive result. Thushar rejected Pinarayi’s allegation that the SNDP leadership had worked against the left in Aruvikkara.However, the Marxists are still trying to put up a bold face with regard to the question of Ezhava support. “Ezhavas of Kerala have a history of their own and they, as a community, will never embrace the right wing Hindutva ideology. It is wrong to think that all Ezhavas will vote as per orders from Vellappally,” said a CPI(M) leader.
Vellappally has given clear indications of what his political preferences are with his statements on the need for unity among the majority communities of Kerala. On Wednesday, he reiterated this point to Amit Shah during their meeting. According to him, not just the minorities but the Hindus also deserved justice in the social, economic and educational fields.
The SNDP general secretary is yet to give a direct explanation on the possibility of getting into an understanding with the BJP but he made his mind known to all when he said, “We should use an opportunity when we are offered one.” However, the SNDP has not decided the position it should adopt in the local bodies elections.