Amid the buzz that the Nair Service Society (NSS) and the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam are inching closer to an alliance, a delay on the part of the Congress in settling its differences with the NSS appears to have put the Opposition United Democratic Front in a challenging position ahead of back-to-back elections.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and the Kerala Congress have openly expressed their dissatisfaction over the widening gap between the Congress and the community organisations. The IUML has also voiced its displeasure over the delay before the Congress high command. The NSS, likewise, sees the delay as a clear sign of disregard for its concerns.
“With the passing of leaders like Oommen Chandy and K.M. Mani, the UDF appears to have lost its touch with the NSS. Even now, apart from Kodikunnil Suresh, MP, and P.J. Kurien, no senior Congress leader has made direct contact with us,” NSS insiders point out.
Strained relations
The NSS also feels left out of the discussions on matters affecting the Hindu communities, something that had never happened under Chandy and Mani. Friction with Congress leaders, particularly Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan, remains unresolved, further straining the relations.
By contrast, the Left Democratic Front (LDF) has been actively engaging the NSS on Sabarimala issues, bridging the gaps developed over the women entry protests in 2018. This steady engagement has paid off politically, with both the NSS and SNDP backing the government on the Global Ayyappa Sangamam.
At the same time, the NSS also seems to be playing a careful hand amid Congress’ internal turmoil. “They want to avoid splitting Hindu votes in a way that could favour the BJP. Ahead of the elections, the NSS is expected to recalibrate in favour of the UDF,” says a senior Congress leader.
Sabarimala issue
Meanwhile, NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair’s unprecedented public endorsement of the SNDP Yogam’s commitment to Sabarimala and reciprocating its praise has sparked speculation of a possible alliance between these two powerful groups. This will be the first sign of thaw between the NSS and SNDP in over a decade, since the failed Hindu Grand Alliance of 2012–2014. These two influential caste-based Hindu bodies have long clashed over caste-based reservations. Though they patched things up briefly in 2012, the alliance collapsed in 2014 over the Devaswom Recruitment Board proposal.
Tensions lingered after that. Later in 2014, the NSS opposed the SNDP’s push for a grand Hindu alliance ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, deepening the divide. Now, the latest development suggest a thaw in their decades-long rivalry, one that could reshape Kerala’s political scene.
Published – September 29, 2025 07:34 pm IST
