Forward of this yr’s Kerala Meeting elections, weeks after struggling a setback within the not too long ago concluded native physique polls, the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Entrance (LDF) is at present dealing with inside discord over Ezhava Get together chief Velappally Natesan, who has emerged as a controversial determine in state politics.
Final Friday, the CPI(M) got here to the protection of Natesan after the Ezhava chief was as soon as once more accused of concentrating on Muslims together with his feedback in regards to the opposition Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
With parliamentary elections approaching and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Entrance (UDF) performing nicely in current municipal elections, tensions over Natesan might additional deepen rifts inside the ruling LDF.
What is the argument about his automotive journey?
On December 31, the CPI, the LDF’s second-largest accomplice, publicly condemned the “mishmash” of Vijayan and Natesan. After Mr. Natesan prolonged his assist to the LDF and stated Mr. Vijayan would return as CM for a 3rd consecutive time period, Mr. Viswam advised the media that Mr. Natesan was “not assigned to provide credit score to the efficiency of the LDF authorities.”
Viswam talked about how he has saved Natesan at a distance, saying, “I’ll shake his hand, however I’ll by no means permit him to journey in my automotive.”
Viswam talked about Mr. Vijayan, who gave Natesan a journey in his automotive throughout a visit to Pamba for the worldwide Ayyappa devotee Sangamam in September final yr. The Sangamam was aimed toward strengthening assist amongst marginalized Hindus after the Left backed a Supreme Court docket ruling in 2018 that allowed ladies to enter the Sabarimala temple.
Nonetheless, the connection between Vijayan and Natesan quickly grew to become a sizzling matter in political circles, particularly after a CPI investigation discovered that Natesan’s anti-minority violence contributed to alienating the Muslim vote financial institution and the LDF within the current native physique elections. Within the native physique elections in Kerala, the UDF made a comeback by profitable 4 out of six firms, 54 out of 86 municipal firms, 79 out of 152 block panchayats and 504 out of 941 gram panchayats.
Nonetheless, Vijayan caught to his stand towards Natesan and stated, “Pinarayi Vijayan shouldn’t be Binoy Viswam. He could have a special stand. I nonetheless assume what I did was proper.”
Has the CPI(M)’s view of Natesan modified?
A decade in the past, when Mr. Vijayan was the CPI(M) state secretary, he had been a robust critic of Mr. Natesan. “(Natesan’s) tongue spews poison towards minorities,” he as soon as stated. The CPI(M) had additionally criticized Natesan’s affiliation with the BJP in 2015, naming the Ezhava chief as ‘Kerala Togadia’ (after former Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) president Pravin Togadia).
Over the previous yr, Mr. Natesan has grow to be a rising voice in Kerala politics, with feedback particularly concentrating on Muslims. Natesan has constantly attacked IUML and has been accused of being polarizing. Natesan stated in April final yr that the Muslim-majority Malappuram district had grow to be a “separate nation” and “Hindus can not breathe freely”.
Regardless of Natesan’s controversial statements, the CPI(M) tactically adopted a mushy method in direction of him. After its rout within the 2024 Lok Sabha elections when Muslims defected from the LDF, the CPI(M) finds frequent floor with Natesan because the ruling celebration seeks to win again conventional Hindu votes, particularly the Ezhavas, whose assist the BJP can be attempting to draw.
Why cannot Natesan and the BJP get alongside?
Whereas Natesan beats the drum of the CPI(M), the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), led by his son Tushar, is an ally of the Bharatiya Janata Get together-led NDA in Kerala.
Natesan based the celebration 10 years in the past after touring throughout the state the place Hindutva sentiment was excessive, however he restricted himself to the position of “patron”. Whereas Mr. Natesan continued to steer the SNDP Yogam, his son grew to become the top of the BJDS.
Nonetheless, the daddy and son duo had been typically at odds. Through the 2018 Sabarimala riots, Natesan led the left-wing Navodhana Samrakshana Samithi (Renaissance Safety Discussion board), which claims to assist ladies and progressive values, whereas Tushar and the Bharatiya Janata Get together had been in direct battle.
After the BDJS did not make any good points within the current municipal elections, Natesan expressed disappointment over the celebration’s continued alliance with the BJP. Whereas leaving it to the BDJS management to determine on the longer term plan of action, Natesan claimed {that a} part of the celebration needed to align with the LDF.
Inside the NDA, the Bharatiya Janata Get together believes that a lot of the grassroots-level employees within the BDJS are members of the SNDP Yogam, which is historically aligned with the Left. This adversely affected the BJP’s efforts to realize a foothold within the Ezhava neighborhood with the assist of the BJDS.
