Former ISRO Chairman Madhavan Nair propels Modi’s political caravan in Kerala

The Sangh parivar lobby in Kerala has received a shot in the arm with Dr G Madhavan Nair, former Chairman of Indian Space Research Organisation(ISRO) and Secretary to the Department of Space, Government of India, pledging his support for the formation of a third political front in Kerala led by the BJP.

Much to the chagrin of the Congress and the CPM which lead the rival political fronts in Kerala, Madhanvan Nair has also agreed to be the patron of the Rath Yatra planned by SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappalli Nadesan from Kasargode to Kanyakumari in the run-up to the next Assembly elections in Kerala, for which the BJP has pledged its whole-hearted support. The Rath Yatra is being flagged off by none other than Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation.

Seventy one-year-old Nair is a leading technologist in the field of rocket systems and has made significant contribution to the development of multi-stage satellite launch vehicles, achieving self-reliance in independent access to space using indigenous technologies. He had a distinguished stint as Chairman of ISRO for six years till 2009. Prior to his retirement, the nation honoured him by conferring on him the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour.

In fact, the state BJP has been looking for a charismatic face with wide following cutting across political and communal lines to strengthen its support base in Kerala. Though film actor Suresh Gopi has recently come closer to the BJP, he is yet to be given a formal role in the party. So Nair would be a prize catch for the BJP if he is willing to associate with the party or the Central Government run by it in an appropriate capacity.
Nair’s unexpected support for the third front comes ahead of the upcoming local body elections in Kerala. Nair has however ruled out his entry into politics.

Nair said the two fronts in Kerala, which come to power one after the other, have failed to foster the development of the state. “”The people of Kerala are fed up with both the UDF and LDF. There is scope for a third front provided the people’s discontent is translated into votes,” the top scientist said.

Heaping praise on Modi, Nair siad: “Modi’s perspective of development crosses boundaries of castes and religions. His pro-people policies are certainly going to be good for Kerala. Modi’s views for the country’s development has been accepted widely outside Kerala,” he said.

Vellappally Nadesan’s Rath Yatra is expected to culminate in the formation of a new political party in December. The new party along with the BJP is likely to form a third front ahead of the Assembly polls slated for next year. Nadesan had recently met Modi and Amit Shah in Delhi to finetune their political strategy.

In fact, state BJP’s tie-up with SNDP Yogam is a masterstroke by Amit Shah who was disillusioned with the state leadership of the BJP which could not so far even open its account in the Kerala Assembly. In Shah’s reckoning, BJP’s tie-up with SNDP would help the party to break new grounds and reap rich electoral dividends.

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