Candidate selection: All parties are ignoring backward communities, says Swami Sachidananda 

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Sree Narayana Dharma Sangham President Swami Sachidananda has strongly criticised political leadership in Kerala, accusing all three major fronts of ignoring backward communities during elections. Speaking to Kerala Kaumudi, the Swami said that the three political fronts are deliberately pushing backward communities into old hardships again. He said the Sivagiri Mutt was forced to speak out after repeatedly witnessing this trend.

He alleged that parties are giving seats to backward candidates only in constituencies where they have little chance of winning. He said that during the leadership of K Karunakaran and A K Antony, the Congress had given proper representation to backward communities.

"After R Sankar, no one from the Ezhava community has become Chief Minister in Kerala. Certain organised groups have sidelined backward communities and monopolised power. It was the Ezhava community and other backward sections who nurtured the Communist Party with their blood and sweat. Those who built the movement are now being sidelined. The doors to mainstream politics have been closed to Ezhavas, Vishwakarmas, Dheevaras, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. In the BJP leadership, except for two or three people, the rest belong to the upper castes. They are the ones who take all the key decisions,” Swami Sachidananda said.

“For the Christian community, bishops intervene. A similar situation exists in the Muslim community. But there are no leaders in political parties to speak for backward communities like the Ezhavas. Leaders who come from these communities are focused on building their own image. Sivagiri Mutt is not interfering in politics. Politics is part of social justice. Sree Narayana Guru installed the Shiva idol at Aruvippuram for social justice and equality. If social justice is denied, we will have to speak about it. Winnable constituencies must be given during elections. In areas where backward communities are in the majority, those communities should be given priority,” he said.

"Sree Narayana Dharma stands not only for spiritual values but also for material progress. Sivagiri is committed to protecting these principles and wants progress in the political field as well. Some may question if saints should intervene in such matters. Sree Narayana Guru had dedicated his life to uplifting the oppressed. If the Guru had not taken such steps, backward communities would have remained socially isolated. Political leadership still carries the mindset of searching for a reserved constituency to field K. R. Narayanan," he added.