The state council of the SNDP Yogam, the social organization representing the numerically strong Ezhava community, has decided not to form a political party on its own.
However, the Yogam made it clear that there was no bar on anyone in its rank and file doing so.
The council that met in Munnar immediately after a leadership meet of the Yogam sought to tread a more prudent path while dismissing the clamour for a new ‘Hindu’ party that came from a section within it. The resolution, passed by the council, in fact, was silent on “Hindu unity.”
“Everybody is in favour of a new party, but the decision of the council is that it should not be led by the Yogam. We will have wider discussions with all sections of the society.
The council is in favour of bringing together marginalized sections from all communities, including Christians and Muslims for a joint front to fight for their rights,” said Yogam general secretary Vellapally Natesan.
Natesan clarified that the resolution was silent on Hindu unity precisely for this reason. “The League is a party of rich Muslims and doesn’t care about the plight of others in the community outside
Malabar. So is the case of the Kerala Congress which stands for the rich Christians.”
Meanwhile, sources said an urgent session of the SNDP Yogam Council was convened after a section of the leadership argued for a party led by the Yogam, and others strongly objected, while Vellapally Natesan stood his ground for Hindu unity. The decision is seen as a set-back
to Natesan’s plan.
The SNDP Yogam favoured adoption of a prudent line in the wake of the lessons it learnt from the now defunct SRP, which was its political front for a period, but could garner only marginal support from the
community.