BJP leader Prakash Javadekar met Vellappally Natesan, general secretary of the SNDP Yogam, an organization for the Ezhava community. The meeting, described by the BJP as friendly, occurs amid speculation about Natesan's closer ties with the CPI(M) and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Natesan's recent controversial remarks drew criticism, though not from the CPI(M) or BJP. Natesan's son leads the BDJS, an NDA ally.