From communist roots to RSS ranks: BJP's Rajya Sabha nominee Sadanandan master

Thiruvananthapuram: BJP's decision to nominate C Sadanandan, colloquially known as Sadanandan master, to the Rajya Sabha can be seen as a tribute to the scores of BJP and RSS workers who were victims of political violence.

In his address in Thiruvananthapuram on Saturday, BJP leader Amit Shah stressed the sacrifice made by many BJP-RSS workers for building up the party in Kerala.

He also promised that the wish of the martyrs of the party and their families will be fulfilled once the party comes to power in Kerala.

Sadanandan came under attack from CPM workers at Mattanur in Kannur on January 25, 1994 at the age of 30. The hardcore RSS worker was brutally attacked and both his legs were chopped. He remained there until the police took him to the hospital. Since then he has been living with artificial limps.

The RSS cadres retaliated by claiming the life of CPM student activist K V Sudheesh.

Though he was born in a communist family in Kannur, Sadanandan found himself gravitating towards RSS ideologies—a shift which proved to be the catalyst for political enmity.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Sadanandan a few days ago.

On Sunday the PM tweeted,"Sadanandan Master’s life is the epitome of courage and refusal to bow to injustice. Violence and intimidation couldn’t deter his spirit towards national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable. He is extremely passionate towards youth empowerment."

Sadanandan, who worked as a school teacher in Thrissur, contested in the 2016 and 2021 assembly elections at Kuthuparamba in Kannur. Modi had also campaigned for him and highlighted him as a living martyr of the political violence by the Communist party.

Reacting to his nomination, Sadanandan said that the significance being given by the BJP for Kerala was becoming more evident by nominating him to the Rajya Sabha.

With Sadanandan, there will be three MPs from Kerala in the Rajya Sabha. Union minister of state for minority affairs George Kurian and former athlete P T Usha are the others.

Actor-turned politician and union minister of state for petroleum and tourism Suresh Gopi is the lone and maiden MP from Kerala in the Lok Sabha.

Sadanandan was made the BJP state vice president in the recent reconstitution of the party state leadership.