Vellapally Natesan for 3rd front, not own party

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The much-awaited rendezvous between SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan and Prime Minister Narendra Modi took place in New Delhi on Thursday, after which Mr Natesan stressed on the need for a third front in Kerala, though SNDP Yogam will not be directly linked to it as an organization.

“At the moment Hindu unity is required in the state and we will work strongly for this purpose. So if a third front is constituted, there is huge section which is willing to join such a formation. But SNDP will not float any party on its own. Our members and others outside could form the third front”, said Mr Natesan.

Christians and Muslims enjoyed a larger share of the cake while the majority community members were left to gawk at their prosperity.

He said the meeting with Mr Modi was extremely cordial and the latter agreed to consider/grant various requests he had made:  

There would be no change in the reservation system. PM would visit Kerala sometime in December to unveil the statue of R. Sankar.

PM would ensure more industries to provide jobs to the educated youth.  More would be done, especially a special package, for the landless and homeless among the SC/ST and OBCS.

There would be assistance for the flagship micro finance programme. Mr Natesan denied discussing politics with Mr Modi. Asked about reports that NDA was planning to project him as the CM candidate, he quipped: “I have said many times that I don’t have any parliamentary ambition. I am not going to be even a panchayat member”.

He was non-committal on the BJP-SNDP tie-up for local polls.  “We are yet to take a decision. But why are you afraid of BJP and Sangh Parivar? Why are you afraid of SNDP”?

On the question of Union Cabinet berth, the SNDP general secretary said that such issues would be discussed at the appropriate forum not before TV cameras. “We will discuss it in the council.  I cannot take a decision individually. I am not the State. Am I SNDP? If someone offers us power, we need to discuss it. But there is no offer as yet, so no question of discussions”, he said.

He said that in the imminent local body elections parties would vie for larger share of the cake.

“Our market value has gone up. Till yesterday they rubbished us. We are ready to share seats with anyone –BJP, Communists and Congress. Our members who are part of political parties can contest on the party symbol but if our members are given seats they should contest independently”, Mr Natesan clarified.

BJP sources told DC that Mr Tushar Vellapally sought the help of BJP national president Amit Shah to bring PM to Shanghumugham for the Rath Yatra (Kerala Samrakshana Yatra) finale.

Mr Natesan was accompanied by wife Preethi Natesan, son and Yogam vice-president Tushar Vellapally and Subhash Vasu, Mavelikara SNDP Yogam union president.

SNDP Yogam leaders were huddled with Amit Shah at his official residence and senior RSS ideologue S. Gurumurthy. Earlier in the day, they held talks with VHP international working president Ashok Kumar Singhal and BJP organizational general secretary Ram Lal.