After years of ongoing disagreements and sometimes outright conflicts with the state administration, the Nair Service Society (NSS) has successfully convinced the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government to officially declare Mannam Jayanti a public holiday under the Negotiable Instruments Act (NIA).
This significant decision is largely viewed as a positive result of the government’s strengthening relationship with the influential community organization. This improved rapport first became apparent during the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, an event held in Pampa in September.
On Saturday, the NSS released an official statement, extending heartfelt gratitude to the government for finally addressing their long-standing request. NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair noted that while Mannathu Padmanabhan’s birth anniversary was already a holiday for state government institutions, many devoted followers were unable to participate in the celebrations at Perunna. He stated that the NSS had consistently pushed for January 2, the revered leader’s birthday, to be recognized as a full public holiday under the NIA, and praised the state government for its ‘ideal decision’.
This breakthrough is particularly noteworthy given previous NSS attempts, which had been met with resistance. The organization had been overtly critical of the government following the 2018 Sabarimala protests. Before the last Assembly elections, this very issue sparked heated public debates, with the NSS vocally questioning the government’s justifications for withholding the NIA declaration.
In fact, during the Mannam Jayanti celebrations in 2022, the NSS general secretary had strongly criticized the LDF, accusing them of dismissing the holiday demand with weak excuses and cautioning of repercussions if their attitude towards the NSS did not improve.
Sources within the LDF have indicated that this recent decision, strategically timed before upcoming local body and Assembly elections, reflects the government’s desire to maintain and strengthen its revitalized relationship with the NSS.
A senior LDF leader commented, “The NSS remarkably maintained its support for the LDF, even through the contentious Sabarimala period. Therefore, granting their primary request is simply a logical next step.”