Kuttanad Yogam leaders oppose party politics

Alappuzha: Even as SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan has called upon the workers to do  the groundwork for the local body elections, many local leaders of Kuttanad  are not for playing  party politics in the name of Yogam.

 

Mr Natesan has already taken a strong pitch for floating a broad Hindutva party for the Assembly elections next year. 

 

A Yogam convention held at  Kanichukulangra here on Friday had decided to field candidates in the local body elections  next month. Kanichukulangara and Chengannur unions have  come up with roadmaps for  contesting all wards  as independent candidates.

 

A union leader from Kuttanad told  DC, “the Yogam leadership has already issued a notice saying that  there would be no compulsion on members to join politics.”  

 

Mr  Ratheesh Kannamparambil, a Yogam council member from Chengannur, said,  “at present, candidates will contest as independents  and the Yogam will not seek anyone’s support in the local body elections. The idea of a broad Hindutva party came  after arriving at a shaka (branch) level consensus,” he said. 

 

The union leadership has instructed shaka managers to conduct ward-level conventions to find appropriate candidates. “ Panchayat- level co-ordination committees have already been set up to establish tie- up with allies. The Kanichukulangara union will contest all five panchayats,  including Mararikulangara North, Chethala South, Kanjikuzhi, Muhamma and Thanneermukkam”, said  Mr Mahesh, secretary.    

 

Alappuzha district having a population of 2,121,943 has been divided into 38 panchayats,  six municipalities and 12 block panchayats .