Ezhava leader to announce new party on December 5

Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Sangom leader Vellapally Natesan on Sunday said an announcement regarding the formation of a new political party representing the Hindus in Kerala would be made here on December 5.

"The announcement will be made on the day our yatra end in the state capital on December 5. Other technicalities like registration etc. will take a month. Since the new party will be formed by the coming together of numerous social organisations, their assets will have to be collated for registration purpose," Natesan told reporters here.

Natesan, a leader of the backward Eazhava caste, will lead the statewide yatra beginning from this northern-most district of Kerala on November 23. It will criss-cross the state and reach the capital on December 5.

Natesan is a general secretary of SNDP Yogam, which owes its allegiance to social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

"The new party will comprise of various social organisations of the Hindus and will fight for the rights of the majority community which has been sidelined," Natesan said.

In Kerala, more than 50 percent of the 3.25 crore population is Hindu, with the numerical strength of Ezhavas slightly more than Nairs.

Taking a potshot at Natesan, leader of the opposition V.S. Achuthanandan said Natesan was seen wearing a traditional shawl of Sree Narayana movement in the past but of late was "seen wearing the traditional shawl of the RSS".

"It appears he is hell-bent on strengthening the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh. However, he is mistaken as things are not going to work as planned by him," said Achuthanandan.