Amit Shah shakes hands with spiritual leaders to back his political game plan in Kerala

When Mata Amritanandamayi, a spiritual leader who has a strong following inside and outside India, invited BJP President Amit Shah to be the Chief Guest at her 62nd birthday celebrations at Amritapuri on September 27, the political message was clear. The Mata is all too willing to throw the weight of her mighty organisational network behind Amit Shah’s efforts to forge a pro-Hindu political coalition in Kerala that would take on both the Congress-led United Democratic Front and CPM-led Left Democratic Front.

A fortnight ago, Mata had handed over a cheque of Rs 100 crore to Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley towards the Clean Ganga initiative of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which made Modi to comment on Twitter: “Mata Amritanandamayi is a shining beacon of service. I thank her for her contribution towards Namami Gange.”

Shah’s frantic efforts to rally the support of Hindu organisations in Kerala for a third political alternative is in sync with Mata’s desire to form “a platform of Hindu unity”.

Mata wields considerable influence with the leadership of Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) representing the powerful Ezhava community in the state. Mata’s influence can be leveraged by Amit Shah to form a new political coalition in Kerala with the support of the SNDP.

SNDP leaders, including its General Secretary Vellappally Nadesan and his son and Vice President of the outfit, Thushar Vellappally, are in talks with Prime Minister Modi and other BJP leaders to fine-tune their political strategy. They have also helped in the task carried out by Viswa Hindu leaders like Ashok Singhal and Praveen Togadia. Singhal was also present along with Shah at Mata’s birthday fete at the Kollam mutt.

Giving a shot in the arm to Amit Shah camp, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, another spiritual leader and founder of Art of Living Foundation, too has sent out clear signals in favour of forging a Hindu platform in Kerala. He has agreed to flag off a Rath Yatra being conducted by SNDP leader Vellappalli Nadesan. It will take place from Kasargode to Thiruvananthapuram and will continue from November 23 to December 5 promoting the cause of Hindu unity. Like Amritanandamayi, Sri Sri too has a good following in Kerala among the Hindu community.

Natesan has been trying to bring together various Hindu social groups for a while. But after the Nair community leadership made it clear that they were not interested in a political outfit, Natesan decided to go ahead with his plan on his own.

Various Hindu outfits like the Kerala Pulayar Maha Sabha, a Dalit community organisation, the Dheevara Sabha, an outfit representing fishermen, and the Yogakshema Sabha, the organisation of the Namboothiri Brahmins, have already agreed to join hands with the BJP.

Amit Shah’s clever moves in taking SNDP and other Hindu outfits on board have sent shivers down the spines of both the Congress and CPM leaders. And they miss no opportunity to attack the emerging BJP-SNDP nexus with all the vehemence at their command.

The local body elections in Kerala slated for November will be a dress rehearsal for the formal launch of the new coalition in the run-up to the next Assembly election due next year.

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