BJP's allegation against SNDP's Vellappally Natesan may affect poll alliance

KOCHI: The spate of allegations made against SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan could prove to be a cause for concern for the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) that is looking at an electoral alliance with Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam in Kerala. It was Opposition leader VS Achuthanandan who first made allegations of corruption against the SNDP general secretary Vellappally Natesan. Achuthanandan alleged that Vellappally Natesan took money for the appointment in the colleges run by SNDP. He also alleged that Vellappally Natesan used the micro finance scheme of the Trust to make money for himself.

More recently, leading businessman and bar hotel owner Biju Ramesh has alleged that Saswathikananda Swami of Sivagiri Mutt was killed at the behest of Vellappally Natesan. The spiritual leader of Ezhava community, Saswathikananda Swami, died more than a decade ago at Alwaye.The Swami, who was taking bath in the Periyar river, fell into the river and drowned.

Biju Ramesh now alleges that the Swami was murdered by a hired thug called Priyan and Vellappally was behind the murder plot. The allega tion has given rise to a call for re-investigation of the case by a competent authority. Swami's relatives have asked Vellappally Natesan and his son Thushar Vellappally to undergo lie detection test.

Kerala Home Minister Ramesh Chennithala said the decision whether the case would be taken by the crime branch after examining the new evidence in the case.

Meanwhile, the Sivagiri Mutt has also asked for an investigation to verify the new allegation. Replying to allegations Vellappally Natesan said that he is ready to face any investigation. BJP state president V Muralidharan said that at present there is only an understanding with SNDP to support each other's candidates.A formal alliance will take time, he said. According to him, the allegations against Vellappally Natesan will die down in a few days as further investigation in the case was ruled out by the Court long back.