NDC DESK
Thiruvananthapuram, July 22:
A recent comment by a prominent community leader has ignited a heated political debate in Kerala, with major non-BJP parties engaging in a war of words ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections.
Vellappally Natesan, the General Secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, claimed that Kerala could become a Muslim-majority state by the year 2040. His remarks have stirred controversy, especially as they come at a politically sensitive time.
The SNDP represents the Ezhava community, a significant social group in the state, and Natesan’s influence in Kerala’s political and social landscape is well-established. His assertion, combined with accusations that leaders from the Muslim community exert disproportionate sway over the state’s governance, has drawn sharp reactions from various political quarters.
The Congress party and its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), criticized Natesan’s statement and questioned the ruling CPI(M)’s silence. They alleged that the CPI(M)’s muted response signals an underlying political strategy aligned with Natesan’s interests, especially as the Left attempts to retain support from the Ezhava community—a crucial vote bank in Kerala.
Meanwhile, the CPI(M) has carefully distanced itself from the remarks. Analysts suggest the party is attempting to navigate a delicate balancing act: preserving its traditional support base while reinforcing its secular credentials in a state where religious harmony has long been a point of political sensitivity.
Despite mounting criticism, Natesan has not retracted his statement. In a strongly worded rebuttal, he insisted on his right to speak for what he described as “social justice,” even invoking the name of religious leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, saying he would not be intimidated into silence.
The comments have also rekindled past controversies. Observers point to similar warnings made in 2022 by the late VS Achuthanandan, former Chief Minister of Kerala, who alleged that certain radical groups were attempting to alter the state’s demographic balance.
The SNDP’s political arm, the Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS), is aligned with the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) in Kerala and is currently led by Natesan’s son, Thushar Vellappally.
As Kerala heads toward the 2026 elections, the political reverberations of Natesan’s statement are likely to persist, reflecting deeper anxieties and contestations over identity, representation, and power in the state’s complex political fabric.
