The camaraderie the rival fronts and parties shares with community organisations have yet again turned out to be the pivot of discussions in the the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections.
The United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Left Democratic Front (LDF) that had been maintaining a safe and healthy distance from the Nair Service Society (NSS) and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam had to alter their stance after the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala. The LDF’s relations with the NSS soured following the differences of opinion over the Sabarimala issue and that led to a war of words between the latter and the CPI(M) leadership.
Olive branch
Once the Congress leadership started inching towards the NSS and adulating its leadership, CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan had extended the olive branch and offered to build the bridges, but to no avail.
The NSS has taken a strident position against the LDF, and more particularly against the CPI(M), threatening it of serious consequences. The CPI(M) offer for discussions have been turned down too. Mr. Balakrishnan had clarified on Monday that the party was not opposed to community organisations, but clarified that he could not proceed since the NSS has closed the doors for discussions. But the spat took an interesting turn with the State leadership of the Congress and BJP trying to move closer to the NSS and claiming to enjoy its patronage and support in the elections.
Though the SNDP Yogam leadership had said that it was not for bruising the sentiments of the faithful in the Sabarimala issue, it has remained steadfast with the government and the LDF in its move to resuscitate the spirit of renaissance movement and also the organisation of the women’s wall at the behest of the government.
Now, constituents of the UDF, especially the Congress, and the BJP are vying with each other to wrest the space that they deem the LDF has lost by sticking to its stance on the Sabarimala.
Though the claims of community organisations in tilting the balance in the polls and their clout could not be gauged so far, the position of such organisations has already become the centre of discussions.