CPI-M, Congress targeting Natesan to destroy damage potential: Muraleedharan

Kochi: Throwing his weight behind beleaguered Ezhava caste leader Vellappally Natesan, BJP Kerala unit chief V Muraleedharan Wednesday alleged that CPI-M and Congress leaders are targeting the SNDP Yogam General Secretary as they wanted to destroy his "damage potential" ahead of the Assembly polls next year.

"Congress and CPI-M have come together in targeting Vellappally Natesan. They are coming out with baseless charges against the SNDP Yogam General Secretary after his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi last month.

"His meeting with the PM has contributed sleepless nights to leaders of these two parties. They are now trying to destroy Natesan's damage potential ahead of Assembly elections," Muraleedharan told PTI.

He said that the CPI-M, fearing that its traditional Ezhava vote base would be eroded if Natesan floats a new political party, began attacking him by raising financial allegations regarding micro-finance and appointments in SNDP-run educational institutions.

"People did not fall into these traps. Now CPI-M and Congress are targeting Natesan by levelling baseless charges on the death of Swami Saswathikananda of Sivagiri Mutt 12 years ago. This allegation was made after CPI-M state state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan met Natesan's opponent and bar baron Biju Ramesh in Kayamkulam in Alappuzha," he said.

Ramesh, a known rival of Natesan within the Ezhava community, has alleged that Swami was murdered by a hired goon named Priyan at the behest of the SNDP leader.

Both Natesan and Priyan have rejected the allegations.