Sun Jan 04 16:30:44 UTC 2026: Okay, here’s a summary of the text and a news article based on it:
Summary:
On January 4, 2026, senior BJP leader Prakash Javadekar met with SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan in Alappuzha, Kerala. The meeting is significant given the upcoming Assembly elections and recent perceptions of Natesan aligning more closely with the CPI(M). Javadekar described the meeting as friendly and emphasized his long-standing respect for Natesan. He also highlighted the BJP’s recent victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation as a pivotal moment for the party in Kerala, comparing it to their early successes in Gujarat. The meeting also occurs in the context of recent controversial remarks made by Natesan, drawing criticism from the UDF.
News Article:
BJP Leader Javadekar Meets SNDP Leader Natesan Amid Kerala Election Preparations
Alappuzha, Kerala – Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Prakash Javadekar met with Vellappally Natesan, general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, on Sunday, January 4, 2026. The meeting, held at Natesan’s residence in Alappuzha, comes as political parties in Kerala are ramping up activity ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Javadekar, the BJP’s Kerala in-charge, described the meeting as a friendly visit and emphasized his long-standing admiration for Natesan and the SNDP’s work. “I am always happy to meet Natesan ji. We share a bond,” Javadekar told reporters, downplaying any specific political agenda.
The meeting gains particular significance given recent perceptions that Natesan has been moving closer to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Natesan’s son, Thushar Vellappally, is the national president of the Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), an NDA ally.
Javadekar also highlighted the BJP’s recent victory in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, calling it an “Ahmedabad moment” for the party in Kerala. He drew parallels to the BJP’s early struggles and eventual success in Gujarat, noting that the Thiruvananthapuram victory demonstrated a potential shift in the political landscape.
The meeting also occurs amidst controversy surrounding recent remarks made by Natesan, including comments about the SNDP not being permitted to start an educational institution in the Muslim-dominated Malappuram district and labeling a reporter as an “extremist.” While UDF leaders have criticized the remarks, neither the CPI(M) nor the BJP has publicly condemned them.
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