The new party is being viewed by many as a move by Nellore to help the saffron party gain a foothold in Kerala, where it has no MLA or MP.
(From left) Mathew Stephen, VV Augustine, and Johny Nellore at the launch of the new party on Saturday, 22 April, 2023. (Supplied)
In what is being seen as a move that has the backing of the BJP, former MLA Johnny Nellore, who recently resigned from the Kerala Congress (Joseph), announced his new political outfit — the National Progressive Party (NPP) — on Saturday, 22 April.
Nellore resigned from the party as well as state secretary of the Congress-led UDF on Wednesday to float a “national-level” party, which he claimed would work for farmers’ interests.
While former National Minorities Commission member VV Augustine is the chairman of the new party, Nellore will function as its working chairman.
Announcing the launch of the new party in Kochi, Augustine told reporters that they would soon approach the Election Commission to register the name and the flag of the NPP, which has the backing of sections of the Catholic Church in Kerala.
“We are not against any political party. We don’t have any particular affinity towards the Congress, the CPI(M), or the BJP. We have an independent outlook,” Augustine told reporters.
He also said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the prominent leaders of the world and the NPP would meet him to raise the party’s demands to protect farmers’ interests.
Nellore said that more prominent political leaders would join NPP in the coming days.
Former Kerala Congress (Joseph) leader Johny Nellore. (Supplied)
The NPP’s launch comes at a juncture when the prime minister is expected to meet Christian religious leaders in Kochi during his visit next week to, among other things, flag off the first Vande Bharat Express in Kerala.
The formation of the new party by Nellore is being viewed by many as a move to join the BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) and help the saffron party gain a foothold in the southern state, where it has no MLA or MP.
In an interview with South First after his resignation on Wednesday, Nellore had said that he was compelled to float the new party as both the LDF and the UDF had failed to protect farmers’ interests.
“The farmers in Kerala need a political party with a national vision, which should not conflict with that of the ruling dispensation at the Centre,” the former MLA said.
“I don’t consider the BJP to be inimical to farmers. It has many leaders who are sensitive to our grievances. How can we protect the farmers’ interests by antagonising the Union government?” he asked.
As reported first by South First, two powerful bishops from central Kerala are believed to have taken the initiative to coordinate the formation of the new political outfit — apparently based on instructions of the BJP national leadership.
The two bishops have had “secret” meetings with top leaders of the BJP central leadership, including party president JP Nadda.
The NPP’s key demands include a Minimum Support Price (MSP) of ₹300 per kilogram of natural rubber, exempting Kerala from the buffer zone mapping, and providing proper compensation for victims of wildlife attacks.
The ₹300 MSP for rubber demand was recently articulated by Tellicherry (Thalassery) Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany, who suggested that was the condition for the Church to back the saffron party in the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
The rubber plantation sector is dominated by the Catholics of central Kerala.
Thamarassery bishop Remigius Maria Paul Inchananiyil has also been championing the other two demands for several months.
By highlighting them, the NPP hopes to bridge the gap between the BJP and Kerala’s Christian community.
Going by the 2011 Census, Christians account for 18.38 percent of the state’s population, while Muslims constitute 26.56 percent, and Hindus comprise 54.73 percent.
Among the Christians, the Catholics form the single-largest entity.
A sizeable section of the clergy considers radical Islam a common enemy of Hindus and Christians. The Church leadership, in general, feels inching closer to BJP and the Union government would help it benefit more from minority welfare programmes.
The Church has a long tradition of supporting the Congress in the state, but a section of its leaders now feel that the party is a spent force and the chances of its return to power are remote.
Nellore, who is steeped in the Catholic politics of central Kerala, entered the electoral fray as a strong follower of TM Jacob.
When the Jacob faction split from the Kerala Congress (Mani) in 1993, then MLAs Johnny Nellore, Mathew Stephen and PM Mathew united to launch the Kerala Congress (Jacob).
Although later Mathew Stephen and PM Mathew returned to the Kerala Congress (M), Nellore remained with the Kerala Congress (Jacob) faction until 2016.
Johnny Nellore has represented the Muvattupuzha constituency for 14 years.
His first term as a member of the Kerala Assembly began in 1991, and he is the only MLA to represent the Muvattupuzha constituency for three consecutive terms.
In 2011, Nellore contested from the Angamali Assembly constituency, but lost to Janata Dal (Secular) leader and former Kerala minister Jose Thettayil.
In October 2011, 61-year-old TM Jacob died due to a liver disorder.
Nellore’s admiration for TM Jacob did not extend to his son Anoop Jacob when the latter took over the leadership of the party. In 2020, Nellore accused Anoop of a lack of initiative to build a memorial for TM Jacob when he was a minister.
The same year, Johnny Nellore’s faction left the Kerala Congress (Jacob) to join the Kerala Congress (Joseph) amid political disagreements with Anoop.
While resigning from the Kerala Congress (Jacob), Nellore also accused Anoop of accepting bribes to create divisions in the party.
(With PTI inputs)
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