KOTTAYAM: Despite the NSS’ unilateral withdrawal from the proposed Nair-Ezhava alliance, alleging covert political agenda behind SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan’s call for unity, the SNDP has chosen to keep its doors open for the NSS. The NSS, however, suspects the BJP’s hand and political ambitions of Vellappally and his son Thushar Vellappally behind the move, and has shut the doors, stating that unity is a ‘closed chapter.’
The unexpected collapse of the alliance is perceived as a significant setback for BJP’s political ambitions in Kerala, as it had anticipated a substantial gain in the assembly elections through this Hindu consolidation. Consequently, Natesan’s measured response to the NSS’ withdrawal is likely a strategic effort to pursue unity without alienating the NSS.
At a general body meeting of the SN Trust in Cherthala on Wednesday, Natesan put the blame on the NSS director board for the alliance’s collapse and threw weight behind geneal secretary Sukumaran Nair.
“The NSS board made certain decisions regarding unity. As general secretary of the organisation, it is his responsibility to communicate those decisions to us. There is no issue. The Nair community is our brother community. We are all Hindus. No one should disown the NSS or Sukumaran Nair because of this decision. Some politicians are craving for our blood. Unity will eventually be achieved, if not today, then tomorrow. Sectarianism will not endure indefinitely,” Vellappally said.
He said the broad-mindedness shown by Nair gave him double strength. However, the NSS, at the eleventh hour, perceived potential risks in accepting the unity proposal, suspecting that Vellappally and his son were leveraging the Nair community for personal gain with BJP’s backing.
According to NSS insiders, Vellappally’s strategy involved sending his son Thushar, the BDJS national president, to the unity discussions. This was seen as an attempt to attribute the unity’s success to Thushar and secure a position for him in the NDA-led government at the Centre.
Responding to Vellappally’s statement, Nair refuted any involvement of the NSS Board in the failure of the unity initiative. He clarified that he personally proposed the resolution to withdraw from the unity, which the board unanimously approved.
“There were concerns about a political agenda in Vellappally’s approach. It was inappropriate for him to depute his son, who has political ambitions, to engage in unity discussions. Thushar was not the appropriate representative for these discussions. This was communicated directly to Vellappally over the phone,” Nair said.
On the NDA government conferring the Padma Bhushan on Vellappally, Nair said NSS has no objections to it. “However, I strongly suspect political motives behind the unity proposal. When NDA leader Thushar is involved in the unity call, it may create the perception that we are aligning with BJP, which we wish to avoid. We are not opposed to any religion or organisation,” he said.
Unity bid not election stunt: Vellappally
Alappuzha: SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan on Wednesday said they will not disown G Sukumaran Nair. At the SN Trust board meeting in Alappuzha, Vellappally said Nair was an innocent and dignified person. “The unity initiative was not an election stunt and was never meant to be limited to a Nair-Ezhava alliance. The unity we spoke about should extend from Nayadi to Nasrani. We are not against Muslims. We are against the stance of the Muslim League. The unity of Hindus is the need of the hour,” Vellappally said. He said Sukumaran Nair was compelled to modify his stance owing to the differences of opinion within the NSS.