The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and more Congress leaders rallied around the Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan who came under repeated attacks from Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.
Mr. Satheesan had on Monday taken up the gauntlet thrown down by Mr. Natesan, who dared the Opposition leader to go into self-imposed political exile if the United Democratic Front (UDF) did not win at least 97 seats to sweep back power in the 2026 Assembly elections.
Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty reaffirmed the party’s faith in Mr. Satheesan’s leadership. “The IUML will not allow Mr. Satheesan to go into exile,” he added.
‘Patently hostile’
Mr. Satheesan and Mr. Natesan had crossed swords after the latter alleged that minority vote banks, chiefly in north Kerala, wielded more political capital in the State than the majority community, principally the sizeable backwards class Ezhava community. Mr. Natesan also said he would state the political reality, irrespective of whether he gets labelled as anti-Muslim. He also accused Mr. Satheesan of being patently hostile towards the Ezhava community.
Mr. Satheesan riposted by reminding Mr. Natesan that the latter’s words were in breach of social reformer Sree Narayana Guru’s teachings. He also said Mr. Natesan’s averments would also sow caste and communal divisiveness in society.
He accused Mr. Natesan of using the bully pit of the SNDP Yogam to deride the UDF at the behest of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] leadership and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. “The CPI(M) gambit is to demonise the IUML leadership in the vain hope of galvanising the majority community votes in the upcoming elections, after the party attempts to woo Muslim votes fell flat in past polls,” he added.
‘Will come back in power’
IUML State president Panakkad Shihab Ali Thangal chimed in by stating that the UDF would storm back to power in 2026 with the Congress and the IUML working in lockstep.
Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president and Speaker V.M. Sudheeran lauded Mr. Satheesan for calling out Mr. Natesan’s communally vituperative rants against other religions and castes. He said Mr. Natesan was a disgrace to the SNDP Yogam and had used the powerful social organisation to empower himself, his family and cronies. Mr. Sudheeran said Mr. Satheesan had upheld the secular principles of the Congress and the party should unite behind the Opposition leader.
Published – July 29, 2025 09:46 pm IST
