‘Not a communist, but a Muslim League man’: Vellappally’s jibe at Shamseer sparks row

Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) General Secretary Vellappally Natesan on Saturday stirred a fresh row with his remarks on former Assembly Speaker A N Shamseer, claiming that he was not a communist but a “Muslim League man”.

Natesan's latest remarks came in response to Shamseer's earlier statement attributing the Left's crushing defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections partly to its failure to properly condemn Vellappally over his controversial Malappuram speech.

Vellappally said Shamseer had turned against him because he could not directly take on Pinarayi. He also portrayed Shamseer's statement as an attempt to shift the blame for the Left's electoral defeat onto Pinarayi.

Meanwhile, the CPM responded sharply to Vellappally's remarks. In a statement, the CPM State Secretariat said his comments were aimed at fuelling communalism.

“Vellappally's statement branding CPM State Committee member and former Speaker A N Shamseer as ‘the voice of the League’ falls squarely in this category,” the statement said.

“The Communist Party is dedicated to working for social change by uniting people from all sections of society. Therefore, the tendency to sow division among party leaders and workers who strive for the same objective is utterly reprehensible,” it added.

While acknowledging the significant role played by the SNDP in shaping Kerala's secular fabric, the CPM said such remarks were unacceptable from a person holding the position of general secretary of such an esteemed organisation.

The criticism comes in the wake of the party's defeat to the UDF in the Assembly Polls earlier in the year. One key takeaway, discussed at its National and grassroots meetings, was the party's proximity to Vellappally, even as it often paid no heed to his communally charged remarks.

The controversy dates back to April 5, 2025, when Vellappally, while speaking at a convention organised by the Nilambur unit of the SNDP, said that Malappuram district functioned like a separate nation and was dominated by certain sections of the population, making it difficult for others to live freely or express their opinions.

He said that people in the district lived in fear and suggested that while some groups had united to secure their rights and representation, the SNDP had lagged behind. However, he later clarified that he was not against Muslims and that his remarks had been taken out of context.