A significant internal rift has emerged within Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) over the political courtship of prominent Ezhava leader Vellappally Natesan by the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The division, primarily between Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's CPM and its key ally, the Communist Party of India (CPI), comes in the wake of the Left's disappointing performance in the recent local body elections and ahead of the crucial Kerala Assembly elections this year.
The Core of the Contention: A Strategic U-Turn
The controversy centers on Vellappally Natesan, the general secretary of the influential Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, which represents the backward Hindu Ezhava community. Natesan, known for his anti-Muslim remarks, has become a strategic figure for the CPM as it attempts to reclaim its traditional Hindu vote bank, especially from the Ezhava community where the BJP is also making inroads.
This represents a dramatic shift for the CPM. A decade ago, when Pinarayi Vijayan was the party's state secretary, he was a fierce critic of Natesan, once stating that his "tongue spits venom against minorities." The party had even labeled Natesan "Kerala Togadia," comparing him to former VHP leader Pravin Togadia, in 2015 for his association with the BJP.
However, following the LDF's rout in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, where the Muslim community largely deserted the coalition, the CPM has adopted a tactically soft approach towards Natesan. His consistent attacks on the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a major constituent of the opposition UDF, align with the CPM's current political calculus.
The Car Ride That Symbolized the Divide
The friction within the LDF became public when CPI state general secretary Binoy Viswam openly disapproved of Chief Minister Vijayan's interactions with Natesan. The flashpoint was a specific incident from last September, when Vijayan gave Natesan a ride in his car during a journey to Pamba for the Global Ayyappa Devotee Sangamam.
This event was part of the Left's outreach to Hindus, who had been alienated after the government backed the Supreme Court's 2018 verdict allowing women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple. Viswam, distancing himself from this camaraderie, told the media, "I may shake hands with Natesan, but I will never allow him to travel with me in my car."
The CPI's review of the local body poll results concluded that Natesan's polarizing rhetoric had contributed to further distancing the Muslim vote from the LDF. The election outcome was stark: the Congress-led UDF won four out of six corporations, 54 of 86 municipalities, 79 of 152 block panchayats, and 504 out of 941 gram panchayats.
Political Repercussions and Future Alignments
Despite the criticism from his ally, Chief Minister Vijayan has stood his ground. He asserted, "Pinarayi Vijayan is not Binoy Viswam. He may have a different stand. I still think what I did was right." This defiance underscores the high-stakes political gamble the CPM is taking to consolidate Hindu votes, even at the risk of alienating a core ally and a significant minority constituency.
Complicating the picture is Natesan's own political ecosystem. While he beats the drum for the CPM, the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), led by his son Thushar Vellappally, remains an ally of the BJP-led NDA in Kerala. Natesan founded the BDJS a decade ago but often finds himself at odds with his son. During the 2018 Sabarimala agitation, Natesan headed a Left government forum advocating progressive values, while his son and the BJP led the opposition to women's entry.
After the BDJS's poor showing in the local polls, Natesan expressed disappointment with its alliance with the BJP and hinted that a section of the party wanted to align with the LDF. This dynamic creates a complex web where the BJP's hopes of gaining a foothold among Ezhavas through the BDJS are hampered, as many of its grassroots workers are SNDP Yogam members traditionally aligned with the Left.
As Kerala moves closer to the Assembly elections, the internal discord over Vellappally Natesan threatens to deepen existing rifts within the LDF. The CPM's uneasy turn towards a once-reviled figure highlights the profound strategic dilemmas facing the Left coalition as it seeks to navigate Kerala's intricate social and political landscape.
