LDF to counter NSS offensive

Thiruvananthapuram: With the Nair Service Society (NSS) giving enough hints of shelving its equidistance policy in favour of BJP in two constituencies and the UDF in the rest, the LDF is gearing up for counter strategy to meet the challenge.

The Left camp believes that the open call given by NSS to support BJP and UDF, will result in counter consolidation of other communities, especially a sizable section of OBCs, minorities and Dalits in favour of the LDF.

“NSS has some influence in central and southern parts of the state. But in other places especially Malabar it does not have much strength to determine poll results. No one expects all Nairs in Kerala to obey Sukumaran Nair’s diktat ,” said CPM central committee member M.V. Govindan.

The Left hopes to get support from the communities which stood with LDF government to uphold the Rennaissance values. They believe that with the NSS taking an open stand in favour of BJP, the possibility of OBCs, Dalits and minorities shifting towards Left cannot be ruled out.

NSS leader Sangeet Kumar, however, refuted the reports about the organisation supporting BJP and UDF.

“We are strictly maintaining equidistance policy in all constituencies. Mavelikkara taluk union president may have come out with a divergent statement because of some other reasons. In our executive council and board meeting held last week, it was unanimously decided to stick to equidistance policy. Our organisation has people from all political parties. Some of our members may be making statements to suit their political interests,” he said.

He said there would be reaction from the community against the attempts made to hurt their feelings in Sabarimala issue. In such a situation people don’t need any call to react.

They know what to do. When asked whether it meant that LDF will not benefit, the NSS leader remarked; “Thats all understood.”

Political analyst Dr J. Prabhash said predominantly the Nairs vote for the UDF and BJP. Though they have been talking equidistance, now the organisation stands exposed. He said the NSS stand might slightly affect the LDF in Pathanamthitta and Thiruvananthapuram. But the slight impact may not be enough to defeat the LDF.

Nair votes alone cannot determine the outcome in Pathantmhitta constituency.

“It remains to be seen how the OBCs, Dalits and minorities react to the aggressive stand taken by NSS in favour of BJP. This will be a crucial,” he added.