ALAPPUZHA, January 30 – Vellappally Natesan, the influential General Secretary of SNDP Yogam, a key organization for Kerala’s Ezhava community, was overwhelmed with gratitude as he thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for bestowing upon him the Padma Bhushan, one of India’s highest civilian honors. ‘I never dreamed of receiving the Padma Bhushan,’ Natesan admitted, crediting unknown well-wishers who compiled and submitted his credentials without state government intervention.
In a pointed conversation with reporters, Natesan didn’t hold back his criticism of the Congress party’s unholy alliance with the Muslim League. He portrayed the League as a vote-driven religious powerhouse that sows discord among Hindus in mixed-population areas. Delving into specifics, Natesan questioned Congress’s autonomy, noting how UDF governments conducted cabinet formations remotely under League oversight.
‘Priyanka Gandhi can’t win Wayanad without Malappuram’s backing – that’s Congress being puppeteered by the League,’ he asserted sharply. Recounting past grievances, Natesan lambasted the UDF for ignoring SNDP Yogam’s pleas for basic infrastructure like a primary school in Malappuram during their tenure. ‘They strengthened their own holds but abandoned our interests,’ he charged, dismissing counter-claims as fabrications.
Natesan drew a stark contrast with the incumbent LDF regime under Pinarayi Vijayan, lauding its success in fostering communal harmony over nearly a decade. The Marad riots, he reminded, erupted under UDF watch, causing devastation that scarred the state’s social fabric.
This Padma recognition arrives amid heightened political rhetoric in Kerala, where Natesan’s voice carries weight among millions of Ezhavas. His endorsement of Modi’s gesture signals shifting alliances and underscores the award’s role in national discourse on social justice. As elections loom, Natesan’s barbs at Congress could reshape voter sentiments in crucial southern pockets, emphasizing the interplay of community pride, religious politics, and governance accountability.