Ahead of Lok Sabha polls, thousands of people from the Ezhava community, the largest sect among Hindu communities in Kerala today converged at the Sanghmugham beach here to show their strength at the 'Travancore Ezhava Mahasangamam'.
The 'mahasangamam' was organised by the powerful socio-cultural outfit of the Ezhava community, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP).
Inaugurating the meeting, SNDP General Secretary Vellapalli Natesan called upon the community members to realise their strength to become a powerful political force for achieving the long-denied rights.
Like other communities such as Muslims and Christians, Ezhavas also have to unite and become a formidable force that could influence polical set up in the state, he said.
Except in Malabar region, there was not a single assembly constituency in the state where the community was the deciding factor in the victory of any candidates in elections,he said.
However, the situation of the community was pathetic as its representation in the assembly was only 10 per cent, he said. Similar was the case in jobs and in other fields.
The community has not received the benefits of reservation in jobs in government and other institutions, he pointed out.
