KOZHIKODE: The BJP has sent feelers to the SNDP in a bid to make inroads into the backward communities of the state assuring the organisation of a key role in the Sangh Parivar agenda in the state, according to SNDP sources. The SNDP leadership has also said that the RSS and BJP were not politically untouchable.
The move was against the backdrop of attempts by the SNDP to convert itself into a political party. The BJP leadership has a feeling that a tie-up with the SNDP would help the party expand its mass base. Though the 108th annual general body of the organisation which decided to form a political party had empowered the leadership to take a final decision, Mr Vellappally Natesan opposed the idea saying it would reduce the bargaining power of the community.
However, the SNDP leadership denied the reports of a possible tie-up. SNDP yogam vice president Thushar Vellappally told DC that the BJP-RSS leaders visited them just as leaders of Congress and CPM did. “We extend support to those who support our cause, the cause of the downtrodden,” he added. “There are discussions between workers at various levels. But so far no decision has been taken on joining hands with the BJP,” he added.
“Even if we join hands, no one has the moral right to criticize us. All political parties have communal agenda. The communal colour of Kerala Congress and IUML are very much visible. The CPM which boasts of a secular face organized a special conference for Muslims with special facilities for performing prayers and biriyani for lunch and it has no right to impose a communal tag on the BJP,” Mr Thushar said. “We are standing for the cause of Hindu community in general and backward communities in particular,” he added.
However, SNDP sources revealed that heated discussions were still on in the party on the political course to be pursued by the organization. “There is no doubt that we are looking forward to identifying with the cause of backward and dalit communities of the state. But so far no concrete discussions were held with SNDP on a political tie-up,” said BJP state president V. Muraleedharan.
