A Political Farce in Kerala

A top leader of the CPI (M) and former Kerala Minister A.K. Balan, a few days back, made a jaw-dropping statement: “If the Congress-led UDF came to power, the Jamaat-e-Islami will be handling the Home Department.” The communist leader did not stop at this provocative utterance. He warned of riots in the State (as happened in Marad in 2002 and 2003 in which about a dozen people were killed) if such an eventuality happened.  

Not to be left behind, Saji Cherian, a Minister in the Pinarayi government, made another provocative statement. Referring to the results of the recent local body elections, he said, “Look at the list of winners in the Kasaragod Municipality and Malappuram district panchayat. There will be a situation where a person cannot win in a place where his community is not in the majority. In Muslim areas, the IUML wins, and in Hindu areas, it is the BJP.” In both municipalities, the candidates of the Indian Union Muslim League, an integral part of the Opposition UDF, had won most seats.

With around 90 days to go for the Assembly elections in the State, politicians are dangerously treading a road potholed with polarising statements. After the Opposition made a spectacular victory in the recent Local Self Government elections, the ruling LDF is jittery. Their leaders are making statements that pierce the heart of secular Kerala.

One reason for the LDF defeat is the erosion of its Hindu vote bank. The Ezhava community was one of their solid electoral bases; there is an erosion in the community’s support for the CPI(M). Its members are slowly moving towards the BJP. The saffron party’s ‘not so bad’ performance in the recent elections is the result of this ‘flow’ of certain sections of Hindus towards it.

The CPI(M) knows well that unless this trend in the majority community is reined in, the party stands no chance of coming to power for the third consecutive term, though it is most unlikely to happen. Hence, it becomes imperative to show the Muslim community in a poor light. The Muslim-bashing by some of the senior-most CPI(M) leaders is part of an agenda to get into the good books of the majority community and ensure their support in the coming elections.

The CPI(M)’s backing of the Sree Narayan Dharma Paripalana Sangham president Vellappally Natesan has to be seen in this context. Of late, he has been spitting vitriol against Muslims. One of his most debasing statements was about the Malappuram district, with 70 per cent Muslims. He said: "Malappuram is a special country and a state with a special section of people... You live in fear among others. You cannot even live here after airing your opinions.” There was widespread criticism of the statement, though some of the LDF leaders had supported it.

It is no coincidence that the Central government has announced Padma Bhushan for Natesan. It is apparently part of a game being played by the BJP to woo the Ezhavas. It is the most prominent section among the Hindus, constituting about 23 to 25 per cent of the population in the State. There is a competition among the ruling and opposition alliances to woo this powerful OBC community to their fold. What better way to do it than to confer a Padma award on the most powerful man in the community?

According to reports, Natesan is an accused in scores of criminal cases primarily involving a long-standing microfinance fraud case, allegations of financial misappropriation, and criminal charges related to the death of a union secretary. The central government’s decision to confer one of the highest awards on him for social service has taken the shine out of the award.

Padma Bhushan awardee Vellappally Natesan

A couple of weeks back, there was yet another polarising move involving two powerful Hindu communities -- the Nair Service Society (NSS) representing the Nairs and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam representing the Ezhavas. Though for ages they have been treading their own independent paths, parallel to each other, they decided to come together and work jointly in the interest of the Hindus.

But, the announcement of Padma Bhushan for Natesan, the supremo of the SNDP, has put a spoke in the wheel of this much-trumpeted NSS-SNDP cooperation. The NSS, after a meeting of its top decision-making body, has decided not to join hands with Natesan’s organisation. It seems the NSS has not taken kindly to the government's decision of conferring Padma award on controversial Natesan.

Kerala has always seen bipolar contest during every election. The situation has changed now. A third coalition under the BJP -- the NDA -- is gaining ground, though slowly. The elections have become triangular. The development agenda is relegated to the back burner. Polarising issues are the subjects of discussion and debates not only among the parties, but in the media as well.