Satheesan accuses Kerala CM of using Vellappally Natesan as ‘mouthpiece’ to create communal divide

Kerala’s Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan on Friday (January 2, 2026) accused Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan of “using somebody else as his mouthpiece to create communal divide” in the State.

“The Chief Minister is behind such remarks aimed at creating communal divide,” alleged Mr. Satheesan when asked about the statement by Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan accusing the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) of allegedly trying to stoke communal hatred by portraying that Ezhavas were against Muslims.

Mr. Satheesan accused Mr. Vijayan of trying to create communal hatred in the State “similar to such efforts made by the Sangh Parivar.” He had miserably failed in earlier attempts to pander to minority and majority communalism, alleged Mr. Satheesan.

‘Left facing crisis’

He alleged that the Left front is staring at a crisis after the setback in the local body polls, while the “team United Democratic Front (UDF)” has emerged stronger with its splendid performance. The Chief Minister is using somebody else to vent his anger over those criticising him for the electoral defeat, said Mr. Satheesan in reference to the ‘betrayer’ remark by Mr. Natesan against the Communist Party of India (CPI).

Mr. Satheesan asked why Mr. Vijayan was not taking action against the leaders of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) languishing in jail in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case. He said Chief Minister may also need to be questioned by the special investigation team (SIT) probing the case if UDF convener Adoor Prakash will be quizzed for figuring in a photograph with the key accused Unnikrishnan Potti as Mr. Vijayan was also seen with the accused in a photograph.

The Opposition Leader accused the CPI(M) of “having stooped to low levels” by attempting to defeat the people’s verdict in the local body polls by allegedly offering 50 lakh as bribe to influence the block panchayat president election in Wadakkanchery, Thrissur.

He also criticised the CPI(M) for its alleged decision to terminate the services of a woman from a party-controlled co-operative bank in Thodupuzha after her son had reportedly supported the UDF in the local body polls.