SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan
Natesan told reporters in Alappuzha that those who had earlier objected to the style of former chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan were now behaving the same way in office. He advised Satheesan to give up the “eda poda” style, adding that the chief minister at times appeared to forget the dignity of the post. Kottayam: SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan on Friday said chief minister V D Satheesan should change his style and show more maturity and composure.
Referring to CPM , Natesan said he had now become “worthless” to the party, which he claimed had once celebrated him over the Sabarimala women’s entry issue. He said there was no sincerity in the party’s current stance. On the helicopter controversy, Natesan said Satheesan had repeatedly tried to mislead the public. He said it would have sufficed to state at the outset that a party member’s aircraft was used. Assessing govt, Natesan said it had yet to make its mark but noted that it was still early days. On the electricity crisis, he said previous govts had also been at fault and called for a long-term plan to achieve self-sufficiency. He said the health department needed greater attention, pointing out that the health minister himself had acknowledged a shortage of medicines. On IUML’s role in govt, Natesan said that while League was driving governance, there was nothing wrong in granting cabinet rank to M K Muneer.
He described Muneer as a decent leader and not a communalist. He, however, questioned the political approach of minister K M Shaji, asking whether secularism could be upheld if such leaders were made ministers.
He credited Vijayan’s ability for LDF’s two consecutive terms in power and alleged that those who had praised him earlier turned against him after the electoral defeat.