Rift Widens: NSS Chief Slams Opposition Leader Satheesan Over Denied Meeting

The ongoing tensions between the Nair Service Society (NSS) and Opposition Leader V.D. Satheesan escalated on Saturday, with NSS general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair launching a strong verbal attack on Satheesan for allegedly refusing to engage with the community organisation on key legislative issues.

Addressing the 112th annual budget meeting of the NSS, Nair accused Satheesan of repeatedly denying the organisation a chance to discuss proposed amendments to the Companies Act. “A meeting with Satheesan was sought to discuss the Companies Act amendment. This was a continuation of a petition submitted during the previous government. Permission was denied on both occasions,” Nair said, after presenting the NSS budget that projected income and expenditure at ₹175 crore each.

Calling Satheesan “arrogant,” Nair asserted that the Opposition leader could do little to undermine the NSS. “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 Satheesan has remained strained since he became Leader of the Opposition in 2021. The rift deepened after Satheesan’s comments on political leaders visiting community organisation heads, and further after Nair openly criticised the Congress leadership’s decision to elevate Satheesan as a potential chief ministerial candidate following the recent Assembly election. Despite the criticism, Satheesan has largely avoided a direct confrontation with the NSS.

During the budget meeting, Nair was re-elected as general secretary for a sixth term, serving another three years. N.V. Ayyappan Pillai was re-elected treasurer, and M. Sangeeth Kumar retained the post of vice-president. Nine members, including Nair, were re-elected to the organisation’s board of directors. However, former Minister K.B. Ganesh Kumar failed to secure a second term on the board, after earlier being removed as president of the NSS Pathanapuram Taluk Union.

Speaking to the media, Kumar said he would remain with the NSS and had never sought positions or honours. He alleged that the NSS had been taking decisions contrary to democratic principles, referring to the dissolution of the Pathanapuram Taluk Union. Nair responded that if any action was unlawful, Kumar was free to approach the courts for legal remedies.

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