CPI snub to Vijayan over Natesan: ‘LDF should not become Vellappally’

Referring to how he has kept the general secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam at a distance, Viswam said: “I may shake hands with Natesan, but I will never allow him to travel with me in my car”.

Viswam made the remark against the backdrop of Vijayan justifying giving Natesan a ride during his journey to Pamba for the Global Ayyappa Devotee Sangamam in September this year.

The incident occurred when the Hindu community leader was under fire for his anti-Muslim remarks.

On his part, Vijayan has tried to defend himself, telling the media last week that he saw nothing wrong with it. “There had been an attempt to depict it as a big mistake. Can we say that he is untouchable in any manner,” he asked.

Viswam’s reminder to Natesan that he was not tasked with grading the LDF government came after the Ezhava leader said the Pinarayi Vijayan government would retain power for a third consecutive term in Kerala after the Assembly elections next April-May.

Speaking to the media on Wednesday, Natesan said with a raised fist: “Pinarayi Vijayan will come to power for the third time. I’m ready to say it again. Was there a communal riot in Kerala in the last ten years? In the past when they (referring to UDF) were in power, there had been communal riots”.

Referring to the UDF regime, when Congress ally Indian Union Muslim League handled the education portfolio, Natesan said: “We don’t have educational institutions in three north Kerala districts, including Malappuram (where Muslims are numerically strong)”.

Although the Vijayan government has been in power since 2016, Natesan has recently been repeatedly blaming the IUML, which has been out of power for nearly the last decade. In the months leading up to the local body elections, Natesan consistently targeted the IUML, saying the backward community cannot breathe freely in Muslim-dominated Malappuram district.