Kerala Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Rajeev Chandrasekhar on Monday, 13 July firmly rejected media reports claiming the party had taken a position against Nair Service Society (NSS) General Secretary G. Sukumaran Nair, stating that the BJP has never interfered in the internal affairs of community organisations and has no intention of doing so. Chandrasekhar called such reports 'false and factually incorrect.'

BJP's Stance on the NSS

The Nair Service Society is among Kerala's most influential socio-cultural bodies, representing the Hindu Nair community and wielding considerable social and political weight across the state. Chandrasekhar emphasised that the BJP holds both the organisation and its General Secretary in high regard.

Drawing on his personal relationship with Sukumaran Nair, Chandrasekhar noted that the veteran NSS leader had extended full support to him when he assumed charge as Kerala BJP president. 'As the party governing the country, the BJP approaches the NSS and its leadership with responsibility and respect,' he said, adding that the organisation's work for the welfare of lakhs of Nair community members was widely acknowledged.

Sabarimala Thantri Row: Party vs Personal Views

Chandrasekhar also moved to distance the BJP from the escalating controversy surrounding the appointment of the Sabarimala Thantri, describing it as 'not a political issue.' He acknowledged that the party had limitations in expressing an official opinion on matters of tantric succession.

He clarified that if any BJP functionary had made public remarks on the subject, those comments represented personal views alone and did not constitute the party's official position. The statement is significant given the sensitivity of the Sabarimala temple — a flashpoint in Kerala politics for years — and the risk of the BJP being seen as taking sides in an intra-religious dispute.

Allegations Against the UDF Government

Turning to the broader Sabarimala controversy, Chandrasekhar alleged that the Thantri — who holds no administrative responsibilities at the hill shrine — was in judicial custody, while ministers who exercised actual administrative control over the temple remained free. He accused the United Democratic Front (UDF) government of shielding the Left leadership in the case.

The BJP, he said, would continue its 'democratic struggle' alongside devotees to protect the temple's traditions, customs, and rituals. Notably, Sabarimala has been a recurring political battleground in Kerala, with the Supreme Court's 2018 ruling on women's entry triggering prolonged agitation and drawing in all major political formations.

What This Signals

Chandrasekhar's remarks reflect a calibrated effort by the Kerala BJP to maintain its alliance of convenience with influential Hindu community organisations without being drawn into internal ecclesiastical disputes. With assembly elections on the horizon, the party's ability to hold together a broad Hindu consolidation — while avoiding alienating powerful bodies like the NSS — will be closely watched.