Former ISRO chairman bats for BJP in Kerala

Nair made his comments on the recent political development of Hindu Ezhava leader Vellapally Natesan and PM Modi

Former ISRO chairman G Madhavan Nair on Tuesday praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's pro-people policies, while suggesting the discontent towards rival fronts here may give a new group (BJP-led NDA) a chance to do well.

The 71-year-old Nair's praise came ahead of the upcoming local body elections in Kerala, where the Bharatiya Janata Party is yet to open its account in the state assembly.

"The various pro-people policies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi are certainly going to be good for Kerala," Nair told reporters here on the sidelines of a function here.

"There is a lot of dissatisfaction and discontentment towards the rival fronts here, and if that's going to translate into votes, then there is a chance for a new group (BJP led NDA) to do well," he said.

Nair was commenting on the recent political development of Hindu Ezhava leader Vellapally Natesan and Prime Minister Modi meeting in Delhi last week. It cleared the decks for the two to work together. Natesan, significanatly, is the general secretary of the powerful Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Sangom that owes allegiance to social reformer Sree Narayana Guru.

It may be noted that Nair was ISRO chairman for six years till 2009. At the fag end of his career, there were some differences between him and the then Congress-led United Progressive Alliance government.

Nair, twice honoured with the Padma awards, however, ruled out his entry into politics.