Overview

• Sukumaran Nair reiterated his stance at Perunna, saying he trusts the LDF on safeguarding Sabarimala customs, restated the NSS’s policy of equidistance, and brushed off protest banners targeting him.
• Congress leaders opened lines to the NSS after his remarks, with K.C. Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala tapped for outreach, even as the party publicly framed the NSS position as issue‑based and said there is no fallout.
• The UDF pressed the government to withdraw its Supreme Court affidavit supporting women’s entry to Sabarimala and to drop cases filed against 2018 protesters.
• CPI(M) figures, including Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan and Thiruvananthapuram district secretary V. Joy, welcomed the NSS comments, while Opposition leader V. D. Satheesan accused the Left of courting Hindu majoritarian votes.
• The Sept. 20 Global Ayyappa Sangamam at Pampa, organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board with NSS and SNDP participation, was boycotted by the Congress and BJP and has become the latest flashpoint ahead of the 2026 polls.