Debate over the political optics of CM and Vellappally’s car trip roils LDF

The debate over the political optics of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s car trip with SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan at the Global Ayyappa Sanghamam at Pampa in September seemed to roil the Left Democratic Front (LDF)’s post-local body poll stocktaking.

A Communist Party of India (CPI) insider signalled that the party’s State executive and State council, which met here on Monday and Tuesday, felt that the meeting between the two leaders was, in hindsight, politically touchy in the run-up to the local body polls.

He noted that the meeting assumed unintended political overtones against the backdrop of Mr. Natesan’s ongoing spat with Muslim social organisations, including those which traditionally hewed close to the LDF, over accusations of demonising minorities.

In an interaction with journalists at Sivagiri in Varkala on Wednesday, Mr. Natesan said some entities that benefited from 10 years in government had betrayed the LDF at a bleak moment. He said it was reductive on the part of the “betrayers” to pin the blame for the (LDF’s) poor showing in the local body elections on his brief travel with Mr. Vijayan in the Chief Minister’s official car.

“Would the critics have said the same thing if a forward caste or minority organisation leader had travelled with the Chief Minister,” he asked.

Mr. Natesan said he had merely pointed out that the SNDP Yogam had no educational institution in Malappuram, Kasaragod, and Wayanad districts, despite having land and infrastructure, and did not single out any community for criticism.

Later, CPI State secretary Binoy Viswam told a news conference that some sections of society, which perceived the LDF as a strong bulwark against the ascendancy of the Sangh Parivar and, hence, a natural ally, had seemingly drifted away in some measure from the ruling front during the local body elections.

When asked whether Mr. Natesan’s ‘car bonding’ with Mr. Vijayan had conveyed a wrong message to minorities, Mr. Viswam said: “I will not allow Mr. Natesan into the (CPI State Secretary’s) official car. The betrayer’s cap better fits Mr. Natesan.” 

When asked whether Mr. Natesan’s accusation of betrayal was aimed at the CPI, Mr. Viswam said: “The LDF has not entrusted Mr. Natesan with the job of deciding on the merit of coalition partners.”

Last week, Mr. Vijayan made light of the car trip, stating that it was an impromptu meeting between two acquaintances in the same age group and that there was no need to read any political meaning into it.

Moreover, Mr Vijayan said, Mr. Natesan had clarified that the latter’s criticism was reserved for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and not the Muslim community.