The political future of ‘Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), the second biggest constituent of the BJP-led NDA in Kerala, appears to be caught between the differences of opinion between BDJS founder Vellapally Natesan and his son Tushar Vellapally.
While Natesan is keen that BDJS end its relations with the National Democratic Alliance and join the ruling Left Democratic Front, the son has dismissed any such thought.
“The Kerala unit of the BJP is nothing but a ‘private limited company’ and is corrupt. If the BDJS wants to be part of being a part in state politics, it’s best that we try to initiate a dialogue with the LDF,” Natesan told reporters here on Thursday.
Dismissing his father’s comments, Tushar said his father is not the spokesperson of the BDJS.
“What he aired is his personal opinion. In BDJS any decision that needs to be taken will be done by the state committee, and no such thoughts are there at the moment,” Tushar told reporters.
In December 2015, the powerful Hindu Ezhava leader Natesan launched the ‘Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS)’ and soon joined hands with the BJP, with Tushar made the supreme leader of the party.
Natesan does not hold any post in the BDJS.
Natesan is the general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) – the social movement of the Hindu Ezhavas that propagates the values of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.
The Ezhava community in the state constitutes majority of the over 50 per cent Hindus of the 3.30 crore population of Kerala.
Though the BDJS failed to win any seat it contested in the May 2016 assembly polls it garnered 3.9 per cent of the total votes, which was seen as a sizeable one, given that it was its first outing at the elections.
Natesan is unhappy with the BJP as despite numerous pleas for accommodation in certain posts in corporations and boards, that are decided by the Centre, nothing has come about. As a result, for a while now, Natesan has gone hammer and tongs against the state BJP leadership.
With Tushar expressing resentment at his father’s statement, it remains to be seen what the BDJS state committee will decide on, as a huge number of party members owe their allegiance to Natesan.
