Congress Denies Rift with NSS Over Sabarimala

In a charged political atmosphere in Thiruvananthapuram, the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) on Thursday, September 25, 2025, firmly rejected claims of any discord with the Nair Service Society (NSS) or other religious organizations regarding the contentious Sabarimala temple issue. The statement, delivered by Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, comes a day after the NSS and Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam voiced support for the ruling Left Democratic Front’s (LDF) stance on preserving the temple’s traditions.

Satheesan emphasized that the UDF’s decision to skip the Global Ayyappa Sangam was a calculated political move, not a sign of conflict with any community or religious group. “The NSS and SNDP have their views, and we respect that. Our stance is clear, and we believe our political decision was correct,” he stated during a press conference. He reiterated the UDF’s commitment to secularism, claiming it has consistently opposed both majority and minority communalism.

The Congress leader accused the LDF government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, of undermining Sabarimala’s age-old rituals by facilitating women’s entry to the temple under police escort following the 2018 Supreme Court verdict. “We were the only ones protecting Sabarimala’s traditions,” Satheesan asserted, pointing out that the LDF failed to withdraw cases against thousands of NSS workers, including women, who protested the entry of women into the temple. “The government promised to drop these cases but hasn’t acted,” he added.

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Satheesan further alleged that Vijayan’s political strategy has shifted with electoral cycles. “Before the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, he appeased minority communalism. Now, with state elections looming in 2026, he’s pivoting to majority communalism,” he claimed. He also criticized the LDF for politicizing the Ayyappa conclave, noting that posters prominently featured Vijayan and State Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan instead of the deity Lord Ayyappa. “This shows their intent to exploit the event for political gain,” Satheesan charged.

Echoing Satheesan, senior Congress leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan dismissed any notion of a dispute with the NSS. “We’ve never had a conflict with them, and there’s no need for one now,” he said. Radhakrishnan stressed that both the UDF and NSS share a common goal: safeguarding Sabarimala’s rituals and beliefs. He contrasted this with the LDF’s “inconsistent” stance, accusing the government of shifting positions for political expediency.

The controversy intensified after NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair, known for maintaining an equidistant policy between the LDF and UDF, publicly expressed trust in the LDF’s assurances to preserve Sabarimala’s traditions. Nair also criticized the BJP-led central government for its inaction post the Supreme Court ruling and took a swipe at Congress, suggesting the party was indifferent to Hindu votes. SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan endorsed Nair’s issue-based stance, further complicating the political narrative.

As Kerala gears up for the 2026 state elections, the Sabarimala issue remains a flashpoint, with the Congress striving to balance its secular credentials while addressing the sentiments of Hindu devotees. The UDF’s firm denial of any rift with the NSS signals its intent to maintain broad community support while countering the LDF’s narrative. With tensions simmering, the debate over Sabarimala’s traditions is likely to shape the state’s political landscape in the months ahead.

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