Satheesan downplays speculation that NSS, SNDP Yogam are backing Ramesh Chennithala

Kerala's Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan addresses speculations on support from community organizations and prospects for Chief Minister.

Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan on Saturday (December 21, 2024) downplayed speculations that the Nair Service Society (NSS) and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam were backing senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala in order to thwart his prospects of becoming the Chief Minister in the wake of a win for the United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Kerala Assembly elections in 2026.

Welcoming the invitation extended by the NSS to Mr. Chennithala to deliver the keynote address during the upcoming Mannam Jayanthi celebrations, Mr. Satheesan said that several leaders had attended such meetings organised by community and religious organisations earlier. “I had attended meetings of Christian and Hindu organisations. It is a positive sign since such invitations showed that Congress leaders cannot be ignored,” he said.

Mr. Satheesan praised the NSS while stating that its leadership had “resisted attempts by the Sangh Parivar to sneak into the organisation” following the controversy over the Supreme Court decision allowing entry of women of all ages into the Ayyappa temple at Sabarimala in 2019.

On remarks by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan that he “lacked maturity”, Mr. Satheesan pointed out that he was “happy” about Mr. Natesan’s comment that the Congress will have a Chief Minister in the State Assembly elections to be held in 2026. “He (Mr. Natesan) had said a few months ago that the Left front led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will have a third term at power. This reflected the changing trend across the State favouring the Congress,” said Mr. Satheesan.

He said that the Leader of the Opposition was “not above criticism” and he would look into the criticism made by Mr. Natesan and take corrective measures, if required.

Mr. Satheesan said that he had no differences with the leaders of community organisations and will support their genuine demands. “The Congress and the UDF have always taken a secular position as evident through our stance in issues such as the land dispute at Munambam in Ernakulam,” he said.

He said that the Congress and the UDF would only “gain” through the association of its leaders with the community organisations. “There is nothing wrong in Congress leaders enjoying a good relationship with community organisations in Kerala. However, we can return to power in Kerala only if we make concerted efforts,” he added.