Thiruvananthapuram: The BJP is gearing up to organize a commemoration event for former minister and CPI leader PK Chathan Master. He served as the Local Self-Government Minister in the first EMS Namboodiripad cabinet and holds the distinction of being the first minister from the Scheduled Caste community in the state. Setting aside ideological differences, the BJP decided to commemorate the Left leader as part of its strategy to bring the Scheduled Caste community closer to the party fold. The event was initially scheduled to take place in Thiruvananthapuram this week during the Kerala visit of BJP state in-charge Nitin Nabin. However, his visit was postponed, and party sources confirmed that the commemoration will take place later this month.
“Beyond being a Leftist political leader, Chathan Master was a Renaissance leader ignored by successive governments. There are many such prominent individuals in the Scheduled Caste community, and our goal is to bring them into the mainstream of society,” BJP sources stated. PK Chathan Master was also a founding leader of the Kerala Pulayar Mahasabha. Although the organization has now split into two factions, party sources indicated that members from both groups will be invited to the function.
Meanwhile, CPM leader and former Rajya Sabha MP K Somaprasad termed the BJP’s move as sheer political betrayal. PK Chathan Master remained a steadfast Communist leader until his last breath. Trying to commemorate him after so many years is nothing but political opportunism. Somaprasad added that the Dalit community will never stand with the RSS and BJP, which continue to uphold the Sanatana Dharma based on the Chaturvarnya caste framework.
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