Natesan-Thushar differences in BDJS continue

Thiruvananthapuram: A day after meeting Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellapally Natesan Saturday maintained that Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) has differences with BJP, while his son and party president, Thushar Vellapally dismissed the remark.

Talking to reporters after a meeting of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam, an organisation of backward Ezhava community, at Alappuzha, Natesan said, "I have only expressed the feelings of cadres on the non-fulfillment of promises made by BJP when it entered into alliance on the eve of May 16 assembly polls."

He further said, "SNDP is not a 'B' team of any political party."

"BDJS has its own opinion and the party would go forward on it," he added.

BDJS is a key partner of BJP in Kerala.

Natesan's unexpected visit to Vijayan's residence last evening shortly after stating that BDJS has only suffered losses due to its tie-up with BJP, and his lavishing praises on the CPI-M leader had raised many eyebrows.

His meeting with the Chief Minister and his tirade against the BJP, on the eve of National Council meeting of the party, had triggered speculation that BDJS was sending signals to CPI-M. However, when asked about his meeting with Vijayan, Natesan said he had met the Chief Minister to discuss certain things in the education sector.

"No politics was involved in it," he added.

Maintaining his contradictory stand on the issue, BDJS President Thushar Vellapally today said his party has no differences with NDA and the BJP.

He said he would attend the NDA meeting called on the sidelines of BJP's National Council at Kozhikode Sunday.

BJP state leaders have asserted that there were no differences with BDJS and the warm relation which began during the tie-up period, still continued.

Meanwhile, political observers pointed out that Natesan, known for his shrewed strategies, had aired the feelings of cadres with an intention to bring it to the notice of BJP national leadership, and to a great extent he had succeeded in his attempt.

Natesan, who was instrumental in the formation of BDJS in the run up to the Assembly elections held in May, had Friday accused the saffron party of not keeping promises made to it.