Thiruvananthapuram: In his first response on the Lok Sabha election results, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan said Sabarimala verdict was implemented hastily. He also added Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had asked to stop the operations of a committee set up ostensibly to protect renaissance values during election campaign to avoid any political backlash.
The CM did not help fund the conventions either and conventions scheduled for March 10 to 15 were postponed after CM's order, Natesan, who is the chairman of the committee, said at a public meeting on Sunday.
“The CM opined committee’s work during polls will be construed as political ploy,” Natesan said at the inauguration of SNDP's Chettikkad Shakha building in the presence of Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac.
This revelation comes at a time when the Sabarimala issue is said to have affected CPM’s performance in Lok Sabha polls
Speaking at the event, Isaac said the committee was formed not to support women’s entry into Sabarimala temple, but for defending forces that hamper renaissance.
CPM state secretariat had asked the government to spread the committee’s message to panchayat levels. Chief minister and CPM state general secretary had approached me to restart panel’s programmes since the polls are over, Natesan added.
The CM has invited the committee members for an iftar party on Tuesday. An unofficial meeting of the panel is expected to take place at the iftar venue.
Meanwhile, CPM general secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said he will respond after studying Natesan’s comment.
Punnala Sreekumar, the convener of the committee, said minority consolidation, not Sabarimala, led to Left’s defeat. "The committee will not cooperate if CPM does not correct its stance. The committee’s working is in jeopardy," he stated.
