KOTTAYAM:With decks seemingly cleared for a BJP-SNDP alliance in the forthcoming local body polls, the Yogam members appear to have commenced their election activities seriously, actively involving themselves in the protest programmes on various social issues in the region.
One of the first such instance was from Kanjiram near Kumarakom in Kottayam, a stronghold of the Ezhava community. The SNDP Youth Movement (SNDPYM) there have taken up the public protest against the delay in completing the bridge across Kodoor river.
Posters demanding completion of the bridge and to end the nexus between politicians and officials have already appeared in various places in Kanjiram under the name of the SNDP Youth Movement’s Kiliroor unit. The posters say that the youth movement is heading for agitations with these demands.
Though the SNDP branch leadership has denounced political intentions behind the move, it clearly indicates the launching of a social campaign. “The works of the bridge were commenced in 2012 aiming to complete within 18 months. However, the UDF and LDF politicised the construction for their own gains leaving the public in a lurch. In this context, we have decided to take up the issue,” said Saseendra Babu, SNDP branch president.
Meanwhile, the SNDP Youth Movement is planning to launch a series of protests including road blockade on the Kottayam-Kumarakom road and hunger strike. “A meeting of the branch committee will be held on Sunday and the decisions on protests will be taken in that meeting. We have nine family units and 36 micro finance units in this branch and they all have offered full support to the protests,” said K M Manoj Kumar, Youth Movement unit secretary.
Manoj added that delay in completing the bridge work has created a lot of difficulties for the public. “The boat service along the Kottayam-Alappuzha stretch has been disrupted as the construction works have interrupted the flow of water, which led to the accumulation of wastes in the region and crossing through the Jungar placed near the bridge turns risky for the people,” he said. Kumarakom is a politically sensitive area and clashes between BJP and CPM workers are frequent. In this context, mobilising the SNDP vote base could be a crucial factor in the political development of the region ahead of the upcoming local body elections.