THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Getting down to brass tacks,the BJP-SNDP tie-up ahead of the local body polls is proving to be a strong propeller for key leaders in mainstream political parties of the Left and the Right band to hit hard and retain ground,while also getting an opportunity to assert themselves politically.
The moves have brought to the fore the political acumen of prominent leaders in the state and the manoeuvring skills of SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan,but apparently leaving the state BJP on a weak wicket under an over imposing and diktats’ issuing central leadership.
For the mainstream political fronts,though, the developments have definitely turned out to be a blessing in disguise to sharpen their respective striking power in the run-up to the poll campaign.
Vellapally Dithering, but Message Clear
That the local body poll scene,at least in the districts excluding the Malabar region,has undergone a sudden change owing to the synergies of Vellapally and the BJP.
It has sent out a message which cannot be missed. But amid the fierce attack by the CPM and the Congress leadership the fact that Natesan,who had pitched for ‘Hindu unity’ and was pretty keen to forge a ‘Third front’ in the state at the outset, has wavered and meandered to form a ‘secular party’ now,is also notable.
VS Leads Charge, Relief for CPM
CPM veteran V S Achuthanandan could take all the credit for putting the party and the LDF at the vanguard,once again proving that he can fight many more battles on his own. Right from terming Vellappally-Narendra Modi-Amit Shah conclave merely an affair involving the family members of the SNDP supremo,to levelling charges against Vellappally, accusing him of amassing several hundred crore during his several years’-long stewardship of the SN Trust managed educational institutions,Achuthanandan was pretty much focused on his target. Though, Vellappally has alleged that he had been giving money to VS regularly,the charge didn’t stick. CPM State Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and strongman Pinarayi Vijayan had only a lesser job,by raising the denigration of Sreenarayana Guru’s ideals and the vexed reservation issue. Since it is a foregone conclusion that the BJP-SNDP alliance will make a major dent in the CPM’s support base within the Ezhava community,foes turning friends even if for the sake of survival will do well for the party and also the LDF as a whole. Thus Vellappally’s stand has become a rallying point for the opposing forces in the CPM, leading to an unexpected unity among the key players within the party,which could be highly beneficial to the otherwise beleaguered outfit.
Congress Camp too Buries the Hatchet
The BJP ride with the SNDP in a facilitator’s role has also jolted the Congress camp,forcing the top leadership to bury the hatchet over simmering issues and mutual mistrust. Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,KPCC president V M Sudheeran and Home minister Ramesh Chennithala have come together with ideological and political counter strategies against the BJP-led moves. The trio,around whom the Congress politics is revolving in the state at present,as well as senior leader A K Antony ,have given a direction on how to address the emerging threat politically,without attributing any larger than life image for Vellapally.The IUML has brought the reservation issue into focus,to put the SNDP in the dock.
Final Push for Guessing Game
The SNDP,over the years,has gained structural strength at the grassroots under the leadership of Vellapally. The BJP has desperately hitched itself onto the SNDP bandwagon for better political prospects, while remaining mute over which way the upper caste Hindus,the mainstay of the party, may respond in the end. Whether the BJP-SNDP joint push will have a corresponding sway at the hustings will be known only after November 7, when the counting of votes takes place.
