In a significant political development, Kerala’s ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) has publicly come to the defense of Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair. Mr. Nair has recently been the subject of an intense smear campaign by various groups who disagree with his “measured support” for the state government’s pledge to uphold Sabarimala temple’s long-standing customs. This includes the government’s commitment to defending the traditional ban on women of child-bearing age from entering the revered shrine, even in the face of future legal challenges.
The NSS further signaled its apparent endorsement of the LDF’s vision for transforming Sabarimala into a global pilgrimage hub. This was evident through its active participation in the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB)-organized Global Ayyappa Sangham, an event that recently concluded in Pampa.
During an NSS taluk union gathering in Pathanamthitta, K.B. Ganesh Kumar, a prominent leader of the Kerala Congress (B) and the state’s Transport Minister, strongly condemned these “isolated protests by a handful of disgruntled individuals.” He emphasized that the NSS’s primary administrative body, comprising 300 members, had unequivocally supported Mr. Nair’s stance on the Sabarimala issue. (It’s worth noting that Mr. Ganesh Kumar also serves as the NSS Pathanamthitta taluk union president and sits on its Director Board).
Defiance Amidst Effigy Burning
Minister Ganesh Kumar’s remarks directly addressed the recent controversy where some individuals, claiming allegiance to the NSS, publicly burned an effigy of Mr. Nair in Neyyattinkara. Adding to the tension, several flex boards emerged in parts of Alappuzha and Pathanamthitta districts, openly disavowing Mr. Nair’s perceived “newfound closeness to the LDF.”
“Any coward can anonymously spend ₹250 to erect a hoarding under the cloak of darkness. Yet, certain media outlets are glorifying such cowardly acts, falsely presenting them as a widespread rebellion within the NSS,” Minister Ganesh Kumar asserted.
A Principled Stance: Issue-Based Engagement
Mr. Ganesh Kumar reiterated that Mr. Nair has consistently adhered to the NSS’s core principle of political equi-distance. “Historically, Mr. Nair has voiced opposition to the LDF on matters of significant concern to the NSS and society at large. He has also been a critic of both the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). His engagement with governmental and political parties is purely issue-driven, and it certainly does not imply that the NSS is favoring one political entity over another,” he explained.
He further clarified that the NSS has a long tradition of engaging with successive governments on a diverse range of issues. “Such interactions should not be misinterpreted as a sign of political bias or partisanship,” he concluded.
Congress Distances Itself
Meanwhile, the Congress party has publicly distanced itself from the ongoing campaign targeting Mr. Nair. “The Congress is not involved in any criticisms directed at the NSS,” stated All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary K.C. Venugopal to reporters in Alappuzha.
Veteran Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala echoed this sentiment, adding that the Opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) does not view the NSS’s qualified support for the government’s Sabarimala policy through a narrow electoral lens. “The general secretary has clearly reaffirmed the NSS’s commitment to its principle of political equi-distance,” Chennithala affirmed.