Mon Feb 03 15:34:33 UTC 2025: **Kerala’s SNDP Leader Warns CPI(M) Against Ignoring Ezhava Community**

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, Feb 3, 2025 – Vellappally Natesan, general secretary of the influential Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP), has issued a stark warning to the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)). He urged the party to address concerns within the Ezhava community, a crucial voting bloc, to secure a third consecutive victory in the 2026 Kerala Assembly elections.

In an editorial published in the SNDP’s mouthpiece, Natesan highlighted a perceived weakening of the Congress-led UDF, creating an opportunity for the LDF. However, he cautioned that the CPI(M)’s performance has been hampered by issues within the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO), leading to negative experiences for party leaders and workers. He specifically criticized the party’s alleged overlooking of Ezhavas in key appointments, despite their significant presence within the party’s ranks. While acknowledging the inclusion of Ezhavas in organizational roles, he pointed to a lack of representation in higher positions such as vice-chancellorships and Rajya Sabha nominations.

Natesan also expressed concern over the LDF’s perceived favoritism towards politicians from “organized religions,” alienating a significant portion of the population, as evidenced by the 2024 Lok Sabha election results. He further criticized both the Congress and BJP for marginalizing Ezhava leaders, noting the Congress’s limited representation of Ezhavas in the Assembly and the KPCC presidency. While the SNDP’s political wing, the BDJS, is allied with the BJP, Natesan claimed the situation for Ezhavas within the BJP is even worse.

Natesan, emphasizing the Ezhava community’s significant 29% share of the state’s population, called for a strong showing in upcoming local body elections to reclaim their political influence. He stressed the irreplaceability of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan as the CPI(M)’s chief ministerial candidate, warning that any attempt to replace him would be politically disastrous. His views largely align with CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan’s assessment that a right-wing shift within the Ezhava community negatively impacted the LDF’s performance in the Lok Sabha polls.

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