The first setback came when the powerful organization of the Nair community, the Nair Service Society (NSS) voicing its strong opposition to the formation of a third front in the state. The NSS rebuffed the BJP’s overtures with an aggressive assertion that there was no need to form such a front to safeguard the interests of the Hindus. In a further snub to the BJP and the SNDP, which has since formed a political party named the Bharatiya Dharma Jana Sena(BJDS), the NSS reaffirmed its determination to stick to the concept of secularism, to the delight of the left parties.

The BJP and the SNDP then faced a rebuff from the organization of the Thiyyas, another powerful backward community, in their efforts for a third front. The Thiyaas refused to subscribe to the BJP’s concept of an all-embracing Hindu unity in the State to fight the injustices against the majority community.

As if this was not enough, even the Kerala Brahman Sabha, an organization of the Brahmins, is also sharply divided on the issue of joining hands with the BJP and the SNDP to strengthen Hindu unity.

The latest setback has been the decision of the anti-corruption court in Thiruvananthapuram to order the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB) to probe the complaints against SNDP general secretary, Vellappally Natesan in the micro finance fraud case.

The court order came while admitting a petition filed by leader of the opposition, V. S. Achuthanandan against Vellappally, SNDP Yogam president, M N Soman, micro-finance coordinator, K. K. Mahesan and Backward Classes Development Corporation BCDC) former MD, N Najeeb.

The VACB had found evidence of corruption amounting to over Rs 80 lakh in the case. It may be mentioned that the SNDP had borrowed Rs 12. 60 crore from the BCDC on various occasions; it had charged an interest of over 10 per cent while giving loans to the beneficiaries though the maximum permissible interest was only 5 per cent.

The gravamen of VS’s charge is that the BCDC had released the funds to SNDP union without proper verification of the genuineness of the beneficiaries. Natesan, VS alleged, had converted a poverty alleviation micro-finance credit scheme into a money-lending business which benefited him, his family and his coterie at the expense of needy and poor creditors.

The court order has placed the BJP on the horns of a dilemma. The party’s eagerness for a tie-up with the SNDP for the crucial Assembly elections in the state is well known. But it won’t be easy for the BJP to forge an alliance with the SNDP and the BDJS in view of the court order against Natesan.

Such a decision would be at odds with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s famous declaration that his government would not allow anybody to indulge in corruption nor would it condone corruption(“Na khawoonga na khane doonga”).

The court order must have come as music to the ears of the faction within the State BJP which is against Natesan being projected by the BJP’s central leadership. This faction had been marginalized while the central BJP leaders held negotiations with Natesan to explore the possibilities of an alliance for the local bodies elections as well as assembly polls. Although the leaders belonging to this faction had resented the central party’s decision, they had kept a low profile without openly voicing their opposition. Now that Natesan has come under a corruption cloud, this faction may feel emboldened to openly voice their opposition to any tie-up with either the SNDP or BJDS. Their logic is flawless: any alliance with the SNDP under the changed circumstances would adversely impact the chances of the BJP and compromise its so-called uncompromising fight against corruption.

The court order has, in a way, vindicated the stand of the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front as well. The CPI(M), the CPI and other partners of the LDF have been strongly campaigning against the corruption of Natesan and his attempts to divide the secular society of Kerala by trying to polarize the voters on religious and caste lines in the name of consolidation of Hindu unity. The Left leaders think, the setback to Natesan would further strengthen their grip on the votes of Ezhavas who constitute the backbone of the SNDP and who form around 27 per cent of the state’s population. (IPA Service)