On support to CPM over Sabarimala, influential Nair outfit clears the air: ‘We have no politics, govt has changed its approach’

The NSS, which has members across political parties, appears to have confined its support for the Left Democratic Front on the matter of faith.

Written by Shaju Philip

Thiruvananthapuram | September 27, 2025 05:33 PM IST

3 min read

NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair has come under attack from sections of the community for endorsing the CPI(M)’s position on Sabarimala. (File photo)

Facing the heat for leaning towards the CPI(M) over Sabarimala, the Nair Service Society (NSS) Saturday said it would continue to maintain its “equi-distance” policy towards political parties.

After a meeting of senior functionaries, NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair told the media, “The organisation does not have politics. There is no change in our equi-distance policy, which has been prevailing from the days of founder Mannathu Padmanabhan. However, in the equi-distance policy, there is a right distance. That is seen in the Sabarimala issue. We welcome the government’s stand on Sabarimala. It is the government that has changed its approach towards Sabarimala and has come closer to that of NSS.”

The NSS, which has members across political parties, appears to have confined its support for the Left Democratic Front on the matter of faith. Nair has come under attack from sections of the community for endorsing the CPI(M)’s position on Sabarimala, with stray incidents of resignations being reported as resentment brews within the outfit.

Many members, who still face criminal cases from the 2018 protests against the government, are believed to be unhappy with the organisation’s approach. Before attending Saturday’s meeting, Nair said: “Let protests come, we will face it”.

Last week, the NSS had attended the Global Ayyappa Sangamam convened by the CPI(M) government to discuss Sabarimala development, and welcomed the assurance that temple rituals and traditions would be protected. In 2018, the NSS had led the agitation against the entry of young women when the government implemented the Supreme Court verdict. It had also criticised the BJP-led Centre for failing to bring the promised legislation to safeguard rituals, while accusing the Congress of lacking a clear stand.

The NSS warmth towards the CPI(M) appears to have left the Congress jittery.

Meanwhile, the ruling party seems to be seeing the support of the influential community organisation as crucial ahead of the Assembly polls. CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan said Friday: “The government is with the faithful, there is no need for conducting a postmortem of old issues (young women entry at the temple). That is a closed chapter. We want the support of all sections of people. The NSS stand will help the LDF to retain power for the third term”.

Story continues below this ad

On their part, the Congress and BJP, which have also sought NSS support, are treading cautiously to avoid antagonising the organisation. Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, who belongs to the Nair community, said: “NSS has every freedom to take their own stand. We have not raised any complaint or grouse about their stand. Certain organisations took part in the ayyappa sangamam, while others did not. We have no worries about the stand of the NSS or SNDP Yogam. They can take any stand on a topic”.

From the homepage