Kerala Ezhava Leader Vellappally Natesan Launches Political Party

Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala's Ezhava leader Vellappally Natesan launched his political party in Thiruvananthapuram today.

Departing from his earlier announcement that it would be a Hindu party, he said it would be a secular one. "The name of our new party is 'Bharath Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS)' and our symbol is "folded hands," said Mr Natesan at the Shangumukham beach side in the presence of thousands of his supporters.

The 79-year-old leader launched his statewide yatra on November 23 from Kasargode - the northern most district Kerala.

"Don't you know the political scenario in our state is adjustment politics between the rival fronts. Every five years they alternate in the seat of power and they take people of the state for a ride," he said.

Mr Natesan is the general secretary of the power Hindu Ezhava community in the state and heads the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam.

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The Ezhava's constitutes majority of the over 50 per cent Hindus of the nearly 3.30 crores population of Kerala.

"The aim of our party is not to build a Hindu country, instead ours is a secular party and we even have a Christian priest who has joined us," he said.

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"Our detractors are spitting venom on us and its two leaders - the State Congress president VM Sudheeran and leader of opposition VS Achuthanandan, who have been  attacking the most. Till the time I made the announcement that we are going to launch a political party, I became a bad boy. Till then I was the good boy and everyone had only good things to say about me," added Mr Natesan.

Mr Natesan, however, is still keeping his cards close to his chest. He is yet to make any announcement on what his new party's approach would be towards the BJP, as he drew lots of flak from the rival political fronts, that he has taken the SNDP, the social movement launched by the revered Sree Narayana Guru, to the stables of the RSS.

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All eyes now are on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's arrival next week, on the invitation of Mr Natesan to unveil the statue of former Chief Minister R. Sankar, who was largely instrumental in taking the SNDP Yogam to newer heights.

Mr Natesan along with his family called on PM Modi in Delhi and since then tongues have been wagging that Mr Natesan's party would be joining the NDA alliance.