Marking his return to the organisation after a decade, Chennithala was warmly received by Nair Service Society General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair, who called him the “son of NSS.”
Published Jan 02, 2025 | 3:40 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 02, 2025 | 9:31 PM
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala (Supplied)
Senior Kerala Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala appears to have taken a significant step towards reviving his political fortunes as he inaugurated the public meeting for the 148th Mannam Jayanthi celebrations at the Nair Service Society (NSS) on Thursday, 2 January.
Marking his return to the organisation’s headquarters in Perunna, Changanassery after a decade, Chennithala was warmly received by NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair, who called him the “son of NSS.”
“I share an unbreakable bond with Perunna. The NSS remains a beacon of secularism,” Chennithala remarked, striking a chord with the large gathering. Sukumaran Nair, in turn, underscored the legacy of Mannathu Padmanabhan, the social reformer and founder of the organisation, lauding his transformative contributions to Kerala’s socio-cultural fabric.
Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala with NSS general secretary G Sukumaran Nair (Supplied)
Chennithala’s rapprochement with the NSS comes at a critical juncture, particularly as he faces challenges in asserting influence within the Congress after being sidelined following the party’s electoral setbacks, including the Maharashtra debacle under his watch.
The NSS’s invitation to Chennithala signals a potential shift in its political posture. The organisation, which had distanced itself from him over unresolved disagreements during his 2013 Cabinet induction, appears to have extended an olive branch.
The overture also highlights the NSS’s strategy to balance its affiliations with Congress leaders, as it had invited MP Shashi Tharoor last year for the same event, lending its considerable support to the veteran leader ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
During his inaugural address, Chennithala shared a personal story about how the NSS came to his aid during a critical juncture in his education, beginning his “heart’s connection with the NSS.”
As an active worker of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and the Alappuzha District Treasurer, Chennithala had achieved commendable academic results in his SSLC examinations, narrowly missing a first-class grade.
Chennithala addresses members of the NSS (Supplied)
Confident of securing admission at a nearby college, he applied to only one institution. However, his plans were derailed when the college authorities received a letter alleging that admitting him, a prominent KSU leader, would disrupt the campus atmosphere.
Denied admission and left without alternatives, a worried Chennithala approached the then General Secretary of the NSS, Kidangoor Gopalakrishna Pillai, on a relative’s advice.
“My father and I went to meet him. He listened to my plight and assured us, ‘No problem, let’s see,’” Chennithala recalled.
Pillai swiftly intervened, ensuring Chennithala’s admission to NSS College, Perunna, despite the hurdles.
“He even promised to resolve any issues that might arise at the university level,” Chennithala recounted.
The NSS represents Kerala’s influential forward-caste Hindu Nair community, which comprises roughly 14 percent of the state’s population. Known for its equidistant political stance, the NSS has historically been a formidable force in shaping public discourse and defending Hindu beliefs.
BJP protest against women’s entry into Sabarimala (Wikimedia Commons)
Its influence in Kerala’s socio-political landscape was most visible during the 2018 Sabarimala protests. The organisation led widespread demonstrations against the Supreme Court’s decision to allow women of all ages into the shrine, aiming to “protect the rights of believers.”
The agitation ultimately forced the Pinarayi Vijayan-led LDF government to reconsider implementing the order. It also energised the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Sangh Parivar groups in the state, with the former securing its first significant victory in the State last year, when Suresh Gopi claimed a Lok Sabha seat.
Similarly, in 2023, the NSS played a central role in countering remarks made by Kerala Assembly Speaker AN Shamseer about the Hindu deity Lord Ganesha while critiquing the BJP-led Centre’s education policy.
For Chennithala, his renewed alliance with the NSS offers fresh hope amid his political uncertainties ahead of the 2026 assembly elections.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
