It was an alliance that created a lot of buzz in Kerala’s political circles on the eve of the 2016 Assembly elections, as some expected the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) to give the BJP a further foothold in the state. However, just a year later, the alliance has begun to show signs of fatigue, as squabbles have begun between the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), the political party floated by the SNDP in 2015, and the BJP.
Last week SNDP supremo Vellappally Natesan told media that the saffron party had not kept its promises to the BDJS.
BDJS President Tushar Vellapally elaborated on this issue, pointing out that when the alliance was formed, the BJP has promised to accommodate BDJS members in certain central boards and corporations. However, since then, he said, “They have turned a blind eye to our demands for these positions,” Tushar said. BDJS leaders also alleged that BJP behaves in an autocratic manner, and neglects Dalits and Adivasis.
On Monday, disagreements grew as Natesan declared that the BDJS will not be supporting the BJP candidate in the Malappuram bye-polls. “The BJP leadership doesn’t consider our views. They did not have any discussions with BDJS on the selection of candidates. They are like a wild elephant attacking the Ezhava community people, to eliminate the BDJS. BJP will face a huge defeat in Malappuram. Kunhalikutty will win with a huge majority,” Natesan told the media on Monday.
He also said that the BJP was not fit for an alliance with BDJS.
However, it seems that the BJP has been performing some damange control. On Tuesday, Tushar Vellapally met BJP chief Amit Shah in Delhi. Following the meeting, he declared that the problems between the two parties would soon be resolved as Shah has promised that all the positions demanded by the BDJS would be given within 15 days.
While Tushar also said that the BDJS will support the BJP in Malappuram, Natesan declined to comment on this on Tuesday.
Telling The News Minute that he would not comment on the new developments immediately, he clarified that he was not ready to withdraw the comments he made against BJP on Monday either.
BJP state chief Kummanam Rajashekharan told the media that he has not received any complaints from BDJS representatives.