The phenomenon has acquired added traction with the crucial Lok Sabha elections only months away. Significantly, all the three fronts – the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), the Congress-headed United Democratic Front(UDF) and the National Democratic Front(NDA) led by the BJP are equally guilty of placating these organizations in an unabashed display of vote-bank politics.

And the organizations which are soaking in the adulation are the Nair Service Society (NSS), the organization of Nairs, and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), the powerful organization of the Ezhava commun ity, which constitute 27 per cent of Kerala’s population and the mainstay of the CPI(M).

While the CPI(M) is going out of the way to keep the SNDP in good humour, the Congress and the BJP are vying with each other to secure the support of the NSS. The appease SNDP move of the CPI(M) climaxed with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself calling on SNDP chief Vellappally Natesan at his residence the other day, with four of his ministers in tow!

The CPI(M)’s eagerness to ensure the continued support of the SNDP is understandable. The CPI(M)’s efforts for a patch-up with the NSS had failed with the latter taking a strident anti-government position on the Sabarimala issue. Hence the CPI(M)’s anxiety to keep the SNDP by its side. After all, the SNDP support is vital for the LDF to give a good account of itself in the Lok Sabha elections.

Incidentally, the SNDP had played a key role in ensuring the success of the Government-organised Women’s Wall programme recently. It is in appreciation of this support that the Pinarayi Government has sanctioned Rs 2 crore for the second phase of the construction of a pilgrim facilitation centre at the Kanichukulangara temple. SNDP boss Vellappally Natesan has been serving as the president of the Kanichukulangara Devaswom for the last 54 years!

The CPI(M) knows jolly well that the support of the SNDP is an essential prerequisite for the LDF to put up a good show, especially in South Kerala and parts of Central Kerala.

While the CPI(M) has more or less ensured the support of the SNDP, the Congress and the BJP are trying their level best to gain the support of the NSS. The BJP, for instance, believes that this time around, the NSS will back the BJP-led NDA in view of the similarity of their stand on the Sabarimala issue.

On its part, Congress also is equally confident of the NSS support for the party-led UDF in the Lok Sabha elections.

Whatever the denouement, one thing is for sure. The increasing political clout of both the NSS and the SNDP is a source of worry for all the fronts, especially the UDF and the LDF. By bending over backwards to secure the support of these organizations, both the fronts have put a premium on caste and community politics, which bodes ill for the Kerala polity. (IPA Service)