The cooperation extended by A.N. Rajan Babu, leader of the Janadhipathya Samrakshana Samithy (JSS), to the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam in its initiative to form a new political party has triggered a controversy.
The Alappuzha District Congress Committee has taken objection to Mr. Babu’s association with the Yogam.
The JSS led by Mr. Babu is part of the ruling United Democratic Front (UDF). The Congress district unit is of the opinion that Mr. Babu’s act is in violation of the norms of the coalition, as the Yogam intended to form a party opposed to the UDF and supported by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Mr. Babu said that being an advocate and legal adviser to the Yogam, he had only performed his professional duties and was not associated with the new initiative in a political context.
He was bound to provide legal advice though he was against the political move launched by the Yogam.
The dissonance has come out in the open at a time when the constituent parties of the UDF are engaged in talks on seat-sharing for the local body elections.
The JSS faction, which has distanced itself from the JSS led by K.R. Gouri, has pockets of influence in the district.