Kerala Opposition Leader Vows Self-Exile If UDF Falls Short Of Majority After Natesan’s Challenge
The pledge marks a deepening feud over communal politics as it tests UDF’s commitment to secularism ahead of next year’s Assembly elections.
Overview
- On Monday, Satheesan matched Natesan’s gauntlet by pledging self-imposed exile unless the UDF wins a decisive majority in the 2026 Assembly polls.
- He highlighted Natesan’s own projection of at least 97 seats and urged the SNDP head not to resign even if UDF surpasses the near-100-seat mark.
- Satheesan reiterated his allegiance to Sree Narayana Guru’s secular humanist teachings and vowed to challenge all forms of communal polarization.
- Prominent Congress leaders and Muslim youth groups rallied behind Satheesan, demanding that political debate remain courteous and free of communal bias.
- Natesan had also offered to step down from his SNDP role if the UDF secured around 98 seats, underscoring competing visions of community representation and coalition leadership.