Vellappally Natesan says CPI created impression of lack of unity in LDF, loses cool at media again

Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan on Friday (January 2, 2026) stepped up his attack on the Communist Party of India (CPI), saying the party’s stands created a public impression that there was no unity within the Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala.

Addressing the media in Alappuzha, Mr. Natesan questioned the way in which the CPI raised its criticism of the LDF government’s decision to sign up for the PM-SHRI (Pradhan Mantri Schools for Rising India) scheme.

He escalated the criticism against the CPI and its State secretary Binoy Viswam amid a war of words between the two over the former’s role in the setback suffered by the LDF in the recent local body elections.

Responding to Mr. Viswam’s remarks that he would not let Mr. Natesan board his official car, the SNDP Yogam general secretary said he did not want to get into Mr. Viswam’s vehicle. “Why should I board his car. (CPI stalwarts) T.V. Thomas, M.N. Govindan Nair and P.V. Sreenivas had travelled in my car many a time. I have also given huge amounts of money to them. He (Mr. Viswam) said he will shake my hands but won’t let me in his car. That means he wants my money,” Mr. Natesan said.

On the PM-SHRI row, Mr. Natesan said the CPI’s public criticism instead of discussing it within the front caused anxiety among the people ahead of the local body elections. “People had a strong feeling that there was a lack of unity within the LDF,” Mr. Natessan said, reminding the CPI that the “backbone of the Left front was backward classes and scheduled communities”.

Mr. Natesan’s responses come days after the State council meeting of the CPI reckoned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s close association with him as one of the reasons for the LDF’s sub-par performance in the local body elections.

The meeting took strong exception to Mr. Natesan’s communally charged statements at frequent intervals even as he was seen alongside Mr. Vijayan at public events and concluded that this might have contributed to a consolidation of Muslim votes against the Left front.

Reacting to the CPI’s criticism, Mr. Vijayan had defended his car trip with Mr. Natesan to the venue of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam.

On Friday, Mr. Natesan said the possibility of a third term for Mr. Vijayan could not still be ruled out. “I have made my stand clear on several occasions. Now all that I want to say is that the LDF will win if they get more votes,” he said.

Mr. Natesan continued his criticism that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) neglected his community when it handled the Education department under the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) rule.

He lost his cool when asked about getting angry at a TV journalist when he met the media recently. Mr. Natesan called the reporter an “extremist” but could not explain on what basis he was making the allegation. “He was associated with the Muslim Student Federation (IUML’s student wing),” Mr. Natesan said. “I know about his extremist activities. I will clarify it when the right time comes,” a visibly provoked Mr. Natesan told the media.