Till very recently, Vellappally used to wax eloquent on the SNDP’s evolving relationship with the BJP. What is wrong in trying to be close to the BJP, the ruling party at the Centre? He would ask, adding that the party is no untouchable as far as the SNDP is concerned. Vellappally would also tout the delights of proximity with the powers that be.

All that has changed overnight as it were. The all-powerful Vellappally, who recently had a ‘successful and fruitful’ meeting with BJP president Amit Shah, has changed his tune all of a sudden. The SNDP would not have an alliance with any political party, including the BJP! What is more, in a tone dripping with sarcasm, Natesan thundered that the BJP won’t be able to open its account in the upcoming assembly elections in the State!

Friends and foes of the SNDP boss are equally surprised at the quick Vellappally volte-face. Why is he angry or upset with the BJP? A closer look at the events that caused him to execute a sharp political U-turn is in order.

What is equally significant is the timing of the Vellappally volte-face. It came a day after Leader of the Opposition and CPI(M) patriarch, V. S. Achuthanandan turned a scathing tongue against his lately-acquired love for saffron politics.

In an unsparing criticism of Natesan’s opportunistic policies, VS said the SNDP chief was trying to degrade the teachings and values of Sri Narayana Guru, founder of the SNDP. Interestingly, VS’s criticism came in the presence of senior SNDP leaders and at a function organized by the SNDP. “Such communal leaders are misusing the name of the Guru. There is an attempt to discredit the principles propagated by the Guru. Attempts to make him their private property should be viewed with seriousness,” said VS.

Vellappally’s change of mind came a day after VS unleashed his trenchant criticism. It is an open secret that Natesan’s attempts to clamber on to the BJP bandwagon has not been to the liking of many from within the SNDP itself. They may not have openly voiced their resentment. But the fact is there is widespread dismay and shock over his efforts to cosy up to the BJP. The Sivagiri Mutt had openly denounced Vellappally’s move to be close to the BJP.

Moreover, Vellappally seems to have developed cold feet in the wake of the recent pronouncements of RSS leader MG Vaidya on the reservation policy. The RSS leader made no secret of his displeasure at continued caste-based reservations. A stance which is diametrically opposed to the SNDP stand on the issue. It would be politically suicidal for the SNDP to be seen to be backing the RSS stand on the issue. Hence the SNDP boss’s somersault on ties with the BJP.

An immediate upshot of the developments would be a setback to the BJP’s attempts to woo the SNDP to the Hindutva camp. The BJP had recently deputed two union ministers to attend the functions organized by the SNDP to mark the 161st birth anniversary of social reformer and founder of SNDP, Sree Narayana Guru.

The setback suffered by the BJP has to be viewed against the backdrop of the Nair Service Society (NSS)’s firm refusal to play ball with the saffron party. The NSS had made it clear that while it was all for the unity of the Hindus, there was no question of the NSS shedding its secular agenda.

In view of the SNDP’s somersault, it would seem that the BJP’s efforts for all-embracing unity of the Hindu community have suffered a setback. For the time being at least the BJP’s hopes of forging a third force in Kerala, independent of both the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) have been dashed to the ground. (IPA Service)