Will Vellapally Natesan turn Left?
- Fuelling speculations about an alliance with the CPM, Vellapally Natesan stated his heart is with the Left
- The SNDP Yogam chief criticised the BJP and sarcastically asked whether the NDA even exists in Kerala
- It is also rumoured that the BDJS has opened certain parleys with Congress leaders
FollowSNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan's meeting with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at his official residence on Tuesday evening has raised a few eyebrows among political analysts in the state.Â
After meeting the CM at the Cliff House, Vellapally hinted that the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), led by his son Thushar Vellappally, might break away from the NDA. The SNDP Yogam chief criticised the BJP and sarcastically asked whether the NDA even exists in Kerala.
“There are only two political fronts in Kerala: LDF and UDF. The BJP knows they won't come to power in this state and so they don't want anyone to be with them. They will realise the consequences later," he pointed out.
Fuelling further speculations about an alliance with the CPM, Vellapally stated that his heart is with the Left and Pinarayi is his favourite leader.
"Pinarayi is my favourite leader and I have not had any disagreements with him. I went to meet the Chief Minister in connection with certain matters of the SN trust but I can't reveal all the matters we discussed there," he added.
It was no secret that despite being allies, BDJS and BJP were never in the best of terms. However, things took a turn for the worse in recent months. The BDJS has now decided to keep away from NDA programmes including the proposed Kerala Raksha Yatra to be conducted in October against the alleged CPM violence in Kerala.
The BDJS has reportedly been disappointed by the BJP leadership's decision to not give the party its due share in the NDA alliance. Vellapally was expecting Thushar to be elevated as a Union minister or an MP but the BJP central leadership went with Alphons Kannathanam as its cabinet representative from Kerala instead. This has not gone well with the BDJS and was probably the last nail in the coffin as far as the alliance is concerned.
It is also rumoured that the BDJS has opened certain parleys with Congress leaders. Veteran Congress leader and former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy held a telephonic conversation with Thushar on Tuesday. It is understood that Chandy has informed Thushar that the UDF is open to having BDJS onboard the coalition.
Vellapally, a civil work contractor and bar owner turned SNDP Yogam chief, is notorious for his statements, which are as variable as the wind. So what move he will eventually make is anybody’s guess. However, if the BDJS cuts ties with the NDA, it will be another blow to the Kerala BJP leadership, which is groping in the dark for a solution.
