Kerala’s political landscape is witnessing a nuanced dynamic as the Congress party maintains a composed front amidst the Nair Service Society’s (NSS) qualified backing for the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s pledge to uphold Sabarimala’s traditional customs. This comes years after the controversial 2018 Supreme Court directive that allowed women of all ages to enter the revered Ayyappa temple.
When pressed on whether it was crucial to bridge differences with the influential NSS in a pivotal election year, particularly given the organization’s prior criticisms of the Congress’s perceived ambiguous stance on Sabarimala, Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan dismissed the notion as irrelevant. He asserted that the Congress holds no animosity towards the NSS and views their participation in the LDF-sponsored Global Ayyappa Sangamam without concern.
Satheesan reiterated the Congress’s steadfast commitment to its ‘well-informed political decision’ not to align with the LDF’s Sabarimala policy. He further suggested that the Sangamam itself was a ‘political stunt’ orchestrated during election season and funded by public money.
He sharply criticized the government’s dedication to safeguarding temple traditions, pointing to their refusal to drop what he termed ‘baseless criminal charges’ against hundreds of Ayyappa devotees, including women, who protested the LDF’s perceived overreach on Sabarimala traditions in 2018. Moreover, Satheesan highlighted the ruling front’s apparent reluctance to withdraw the government’s affidavit endorsing women’s entry into Sabarimala.
Satheesan went on to accuse the CPI(M) of exploiting the Sangamam to court ‘majority communalism,’ citing the government’s warm reception of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, a figure known for his contentious rhetoric concerning minority communities. He claimed the CPI(M) had manipulated the event to push a prominent Hindu majoritarian agenda after its efforts to secure minority votes failed.
Adding complexity to the situation, the NSS had previously criticized the Congress for allegedly shifting its focus towards minority communities and exhibiting a ‘discernible indifference’ to the concerns of the majority community. The SNDP Yogam has reportedly expressed similar sentiments.
Recognizing the need to address these political currents, AICC general secretary K.C. Venugopal had previously indicated a willingness to engage with the NSS, stating that the party would ‘rectify any miscommunication.’ The Congress also reportedly understands the strategic importance of countering the CPI(M)’s narrative, which attempts to frame the NSS’s cautious support for Sabarimala’s development and protection of faith as unequivocal political endorsement for the LDF in this crucial election cycle.
In response, CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan had previously asserted that the Congress’s ‘mistaken belief’ that Hindu social organizations were inherently opposed to the LDF had been disproven by their support for the LDF’s Devaswom policy.