NSS-Satheesan rift deepens as Sukumaran Nair launches fresh attack on Kerala CM

The simmering tensions between the Nair Service Society (NSS) and Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan burst into the open yet again on Saturday (June 20), with NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair launching a blistering attack on the Chief Minister over his unwillingness to engage with the community organisation on key issues.

Addressing the 112th annual budget meeting of the community organisation, Mr. Nair accused the Chief Minister of repeatedly denying the organisation an opportunity to discuss proposed amendments to the Companies Act. “A meeting with the Chief Minister was sought in connection with the amendment to the Companies Act. It was a continuation of the proceedings initiated through a petition submitted during the previous government. However, permission for the meeting was denied on both occasions,” Mr. Nair said, after presenting the NSS budget, which projects both income and expenditure at ₹175 crore.

Describing Mr. Satheesan as ‘arrogant’, Mr. Nair asserted that the Chief Minister could do little to undermine the NSS. “However, the NSS can do many things if it chooses to act. Members of the Nair community should remain united. The NSS will not be beholden to anyone,” he said.

The relationship between the NSS and Mr. Satheesan has remained strained since the latter assumed office as Leader of the Opposition in 2021.

The latest remarks add to the growing strain between the NSS and the Chief Minister. The rift, which began over Mr. Satheesan’s comments on political leaders visiting community organisation heads, deepened after the recent Assembly election when Mr. Nair openly criticised the Congress leadership’s decision to elevate him as Chief Minister. Despite the criticism, Mr. Satheesan has largely avoided a direct confrontation with the NSS leadership.

Meanwhile, the budget meeting re-elected Mr. Nair as general secretary for a sixth term. He will serve another three-year term. N.V. Ayyappan Pillai was re-elected treasurer, while M. Sangeeth Kumar retained the post of vice-president.

The meeting also re-elected nine members, including Mr. Nair, to the organisation’s board of directors. Former Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar, however, failed to secure a second term on the board. He had earlier been removed from the post of president of the NSS Pathanapuram Taluk Union as well.

Speaking to the media later, Mr. Kumar said he would continue to remain with the NSS and had never sought positions or honours within the organisation. Referring to the dissolution of the Pathanapuram Taluk Union, he alleged that the NSS had been taking certain decisions that were contrary to democratic principles.

Mr. Nair, however, responded that if any action taken in Pathanapuram was unlawful or violated organisational rules, Mr. Kumar was free to approach the courts and seek legal remedies.

The meeting also adopted a resolution urging the government to impose stricter controls on the functioning of liquor outlets in the State and refrain from granting licences for new liquor shops.