Latest news with #Satheesan
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
If UDF fails, will quit electoral politics: LoP V D Satheesan
KOCHI: Expressing strong confidence in the UDF's victory in the upcoming assembly elections, Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan on Monday said that he would keep away from electoral politics if the front fails to secure a resounding win. Responding to the remarks made by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan against him, Satheesan said he would not engage in personal attacks but is ready to accept Natesan's challenge regarding the UDF's performance in the upcoming polls. 'I am not interested in engaging in an argument with him (Natesan). But he himself has stated that he would step down from his post if the UDF wins 98 seats. That means even he doesn't doubt the possibility of us winning 97 seats in the Assembly election,' said Satheesan. With continued hard work, we will go beyond that number, he added. However, Satheesan made it clear that he is not demanding Natesan's resignation in return. 'Let him remain in that position for a lifetime,' Satheesan said. Commenting on the arrest of two nuns in Chhattisgarh on charges of forced religious conversion, Satheesan pointed out that the Christian community is one of the most vulnerable in the current political scenario. 'Priests and nuns are being frequently attacked, especially in BJP-ruled states like Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh, and Maharashtra,' he said.
India Today
19 hours ago
- Politics
- India Today
Will quit politics if Congress loses 2026 polls: Kerala Leader of Opposition
Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, VD Satheesan has declared that he will quit politics if the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) fails to secure a landslide majority in the upcoming Kerala Assembly elections. His remarks came in response to a challenge posed by prominent Ezhava leader and SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally speaking to a regional news channel, had said he would resign from his position if the UDF won 100 seats in the next assembly elections. He also asked whether Satheesan would go into 'political exile' if the UDF failed to achieve such a majority. Natesan had earlier accused Satheesan of harbouring anti-Ezhava to these comments, Satheesan told the media after visiting the family of a Kerala nun arrested in Chhattisgarh that he was not interested in competing or arguing with Natesan. However, he said Natesan had inadvertently acknowledged the UDF's potential to win big. 'He has openly told a truth: if the UDF gets 98 seats, he will resign. So he has no doubt about us getting at least 97 seats. A mature and intelligent community leader like him, who follows Kerala politics closely, has acknowledged that,' Satheesan added, 'If we get the remaining four or five seats, it will exceed a hundred. We will work hard and make it more than a hundred seats. But there is no challenge with him. He is asking if I will go into political exile if I cannot bring the UDF back to power with a good majority. If I cannot bring the UDF back to power with a good majority, I will go into political exile. You will not see me after that.''Even if UDF wins more than 100 seats, Vellappally need not resign. Let him remain in that position for life,' he said. 'There is no competition between him and me.'- EndsMust Watch IN THIS STORY#Kerala
Hans India
19 hours ago
- Politics
- Hans India
No one will see me again if Congress-led UDF doesn't win power in Kerala in a big way: Satheesan
Leader of Opposition on Monday said that if he fails to lead the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) to power in Kerala in a big way, he will never be seen again in the public space. "I assure that if I am not able to bring back the Congress-led UDF to power at the 2026 Assembly polls in a big way, I will leave the political space forever," Satheesan said. The Congress leader was replying to the curt remarks by SNDP strongman Vellapally Natesan, who had termed Satheesan a leader who has no stature and doesn't behave the way a person occupying his post should do. Natesan is the president of social organisation SNDP of the Hindu Ezhava community – the single largest community in Kerala. Satheesan, for a while, has been saying that at the 2026 Assembly polls, the Congress-led UDF will win with a staggering majority of 100 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly. "The saving grace in his (Natesan) statement was when he said that if Congress led UDF wins 98 seats, then he will resign. So he himself says we will in 97 seats for sure. So to achieve my number of 100, we will work hard and ensure we reach that figure," Satheesan said. At present, the Pinarayi Vijayan-led Left Democratic Front (LDF), which has been ruling the state since 2016, has 98 MLAs and the UDF 42. Continuing to hit back at Natesan, Satheesan said: "He is a person who is reaching close to 90 years, and I will never use the type of words he used to describe me. While I will say he needn't resign, if we reach our target, but I will quit public life and none will ever see me again, if we don't reach the target." Incidentally, for long, the CPI-M has enjoyed the support of the Ezhava community, while Natesan's son Tushar Vellapally heads the BDJS, the second-biggest constituent in the BJP-led NDA in Kerala. Among the other long-standing political enemies of Natesan are Congress General Secretary and Alappuzha MP and Congress veteran
New Indian Express
a day ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Will quit post if UDF wins 100 seats in Kerala assembly election 2026: Vellappally Natesan
KOCHI: Asserting that the Congress-led UDF will not be able to win the 2026 assembly elections, SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan on Sunday challenged Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, saying he will resign from his post if the UDF secures 100 seats. 'Satheesan is merely boasting by saying that the UDF will win 100 seats. If it manages to win that many seats, then I will resign from the SNDP Yogam general secretary post. (Otherwise) Is he ready to go into political exile? The LDF will enjoy a third term in power... their (Congress') Thiruvananthapuram district president itself said so,' Vellappally said. His continued tirade against Satheesan came at separate meetings of SNDP Yogam union leaders in North Paravoor and Kochi. Vellappally continues tirade against Satheesan, calls him arrogant leader Calling Satheesan an 'arrogant leader', Vellappally claimed that the same leader of Opposition who had called him three weeks ago, seeking a one-to-one meeting, was now raising charges against him. 'He thinks he is a superstar... He is trying to create confusion in the minds of the Ezhava community by claiming their support in his constituency. The community should be cautious against such false appeasing attempts,' Vellappally said, while speaking at a meeting of the SNDP union leaders of Kanayannur taluk held at Palarivattom.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
A section of Congress leaders rally in support of Satheesan against Vellappally's attacks
A section of Congress leaders and members of some Muslim youth organisations appeared to rally in support of Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan who faced harsh criticism from Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana Yogam (SNDP) general secretary Vellappally Natesan for the third consecutive day on Sunday. Congress leader K.C. Joseph said in a social media post that criticism of any political leader, including Mr. Satheesan, should conform to accepted standards of public decency. He took strong exception to Mr. Natesan's 'insinuation' that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was above criticism in the House. (Mr. Natesan had accused Mr. Satheesan of being 'arrogant' to Mr. Vijayan in the Assembly, despite the latter's age and seniority). Congress legislator Mathew Kuzhalnadan termed attacks on Mr. Satheesan an attack on Congress. Social activist and writer Muhammad Kinalur accused the Congress leadership of being hesitant in marshalling support for Mr. Satheesan and being overly cautious around Mr. Natesan. Addressing an SNDP Yogam function at Mr. Satheesan's constituency in Paravur, Ernakulam, on Sunday, Mr. Natesan seemingly rubbished the latter's claim that the United Democratic Front (UDF) would regain power in the 2026 Assembly elections with 100 seats in its kitty. Posing a dare He dared Mr. Satheesan to go into political exile if the UDF's electoral aspirations failed. Mr. Natesan offered to step down from his post if the UDF got anywhere near 98 Assembly seats in 2026. He accused Mr. Satheesan of being 'patently anti-backward class.' Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) leader Sathar Panthaloor said the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government, which was prompt in arresting a person for criticising the late V.S. Achuthanandan, was reticent in prosecuting Mr. Natesan for 'spewing caste and communal venom'. Mr. Satheesan had earlier responded to Mr. Natesan's arguably vitriolic attacks by reminding the SNDP Yogam leader that his statements went against the principles of Sree Narayana Guru's humanist and secular philosophy. Mr. Natesan countered that Mr. Satheesan need not instruct him about the social reformer's teachings.
