In a sharp escalation of political rhetoric, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has launched a sustained attack on the Communist Party of India (CPI) and its state secretary, Binoy Viswam. Natesan accused the CPI's "new leaders" of failing to understand that the backbone of the Left parties in Kerala comprises backward castes, including the influential Ezhava community.
Allegations of Ignoring Backward Communities
In his editorial for the latest edition of Yoganadam, the mouthpiece of the SNDP Yogam, Natesan elaborated on his critique. He contrasted the CPI with its ally, the CPI(M), stating that the CPM recognises the importance of these communities and provides them with due consideration. However, he asserted that the new leadership of the CPI lacks this crucial understanding.
Natesan further alleged that the CPI conveniently forgets the role of backward communities as the Left's backbone when it comes to distributing positions of power within the government. This criticism points to underlying tensions within the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) coalition regarding representation and patronage.
Defending the Car Journey and Government's Record
Addressing the controversy surrounding his recent car journey with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Natesan dismissed the criticism as baseless. He pointed out that several former chief ministers have maintained close friendships with leaders from various communities and religious groups. "What is the issue with travelling alongside the chief minister?" he questioned rhetorically.
He also offered praise for the current Pinarayi Vijayan-led government, noting that "governance is progressing with religious harmony." He warned that backward and marginalized sections would strongly oppose any attempts to disrupt this harmony, alleging that past conflicts arose due to the involvement of communal forces in governance.
Personal Attack on Binoy Viswam and PM Shree Project
The feud turned personal on Friday when Natesan, at a news conference in Kanichukulangara, responded to Viswam's earlier remark that he would only smile and shake hands with Natesan but not allow him into his car. Natesan retorted, asking why he would ever want to get into Viswam's car. He invoked the legacy of former CPI leaders like T V Thomas, M N Govindan Nair, and P S Sreenivasan, claiming they used his vehicles and that he maintained good relationships with them, including providing donations, at a time when Viswam was not even active in the political scene.
Natesan insinuated that Viswam's statement revealed a desire for his money—a smile for funds but no seat in the car. He cryptically added that he would not reveal what Viswam said when he came to receive money from him.
Furthermore, Natesan criticized the CPI for creating public controversies over the PM Shree project, a central government scheme. He argued that this internal squabbling projected an image of disunity within the LDF government and adversely affected the front's performance in the local body elections. He stated that such matters should have been discussed internally rather than being made a topic of public debate.
Calling a Reporter a 'Terrorist'
In a separate incident that sparked fresh controversy, Natesan labeled a TV news channel reporter a "terrorist." This occurred when the reporter questioned him about his remarks in Malappuram two days prior. An agitated Natesan claimed he had received certain information that led him to use the term but refused to disclose that information to the media.
This series of statements from the influential SNDP leader highlights the ongoing political maneuvering and caste-based calculations within Kerala's complex Left polity, potentially straining alliance dynamics ahead of future elections.
