As the buzz over the Global Ayyappa Sangamam, organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) at Pampa last week, and a parallel event by Sangh Parivar outfits at Pandalam begins to fade, the Nair Service Society (NSS) has once again emerged to the centre stage of a political discourse.The Left Democratic Front (LDF), particularly the CPI(M), appears to have taken heart from the active support offered by the NSS to the TDB and, by extension, the government in organising the event. Clearly, there was a deliberate effort to avoid inconveniencing the NSS which had set a strict condition that the event should not be politicised.For the LDF, the NSS’ support represents the culmination of a sustained effort to mend its ties with the community organisation. Devaswom Minister V.N. Vasavan, in an interaction with the media on Wednesday, acknowledged this support, noting that the NSS has never been opposed to the LDF government.Beyond symbolismThe NSS, on its part, has ensured that its intervention carried significance beyond mere symbolism. As a forward caste Hindu organisation, it has consistently maintained political equidistance while positioning itself as a guardian of Hindu tradition. The NSS had spearheaded the Sabarimala protests in 2018, which rattled the Pinarayi Vijayan-led government. This time, it could secure firm assurances from the State that the custom and tradition of the hill temple would remain untouched.CPI(M) sources attribute this outcome to sustained engagement with the NSS through Ministers including Mr. Vasavan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan himself. “The government has been largely able to convey its position on Sabarimala to the NSS, including the LDF’s stance on the women-entry issue and its efforts to shift protests outside the pilgrimage zone,” said a senior party leader.UDF, BJP positionsHe added that beyond extending support to the LDF, the NSS is disenchanted with the positions of the United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sabarimala. “The exit of the Kerala Congress (M), which has leveraged the position of the Indian Union Muslim League in the Congress-led UDF, may also have deepened the NSS’ distrust of the Opposition front,” he said.NSS sources, however, insist that their support is purely strategic and confined to the Sabarimala issue. “The NSS does not want Sabarimala to become a site of protest while safeguarding its tradition and custom. Only after receiving assurances from the government on this matter did it decide to send a representative to the event,” they stated.Despite the grand success of its protest event at Pandalam, the BJP, which enjoys acceptance within the Nair community, has once again been overshadowed by the NSS. With crucial elections ahead, the party will need fresh strategies to win over the community organisation. Meanwhile, the NSS’ stance stands vindicated as the organisation has ensured that no political party can dictate terms or hijack its agenda. Published - September 24, 2025 07:33 pm IST