Yogam-NSS unity: Political victory for LDF; nightmare for other fronts

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The call for SNDP Yogam - NSS unity seems to have given the Left Front, which has been rocked by the storm of controversies, a breath of life to face the assembly elections. There are those within the front who were certain that the Left Front, which had been shaken by the Sabarimala gold looting controversy and the heavy setback in the local body elections, would be swept away in the flood of the assembly elections. However, the front leaders believe that the new political equations that create a unity between the two dominant communities in the state will be beneficial for the LDF. Especially in the context of the soft approach they are taking towards the LDF government even as the leaders of both communities attack the opposition leader and the Congress in unison.

Although SNDP Yogam has been taking a pro-LDF approach since the 2016 assembly elections, NSS's bias was towards the UDF. NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair, who spoke to the media after voting in the 2021 assembly elections, said that the people of Kerala want a change of government. However, as the Pinarayi government, which was given the reins of power, accepted many of the demands, the NSS's opposition began to wane.

Closeness with Ayyappa Sangam

NSS, which launched a public agitation against the Pinarayi government in 2019 on the issue of women's entry into Sabarimala, shocked the UDF and BJP centres by announcing its support for the global Ayyappa Sangam organised by the government and the Devaswom Board in 2025. NSS Vice President Sangeeth Kumar attended the meeting. Moreover, he accused the Congress of playing politics on the Sabarimala issue and that the BJP had not fulfilled the promises made, including the implementation of the master plan and the airport.

Despite the fact that many, including CPM leaders, were arrested in the gold theft case, Sukumaran Nair did not try to stand with the opposition and throw stones at the government. He also took a similar stance to Vellappally Natesan that whoever stole Ayyappan's gold should be punished. Both leaders are taking the CPM's assurance that if Padmakumar and Vasu are named as accused in the chargesheet submitted by the SIT to the High Court, the party will take action against them before the elections.

Vellappally and Sukumaran Nair are unanimous in criticising VD Satheesan, who participated in the assembly synod after declaring that he will not hang around the verandas of community leaders. The NSS and SNDP leaders say that Satheesan has no right to say anything against communalism. The fact is that Satheesan's attempt to portray Vellappally as a communalist at every available platform has created discomfort even among those in the Ezhava community who oppose Vellappally's stances. G. Sakumaran Nair has also expressed his dissatisfaction over this. Their statements that there are other leaders in the Congress who are qualified to become the Chief Minister also indicate the same thing.