The political journey and personal convictions of Salim Kumar offered a distinct narrative within the Malayalam film industry, where public figures often choose to keep their political alignments private to safeguard their professional prospects. Salim Kumar, however, consistently and openly identified as a supporter of the Indian National Congress.

His political alignment was rooted in his childhood, influenced by an early encounter with the late veteran leader K Karunakaran. This foundational experience sparked a lifelong loyalty to the party's 'I' Group faction.

His political ties were also heavily shaped by his roots in Paravur, which anchored his steady endorsement of Congress leader V D Satheesan. When Satheesan rose to a become the Chief Minister of the state, Salim Kumar publicly remarked, "Now, we have a smiling CM." While the statement was a direct nod to Satheesan’s approachable persona, it was also viewed as a subtle, satirical critique aimed at the demeanour of CPM Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Salim Kumar had to pay a price for this absolute transparency. In a fragile industry where political alignment can dictate survival, doors were quietly shut on him. Roles were denied, and he was deliberately sidelined from various platforms simply because he refused to hide his ideological roots. Yet, he faced these professional losses with the serene grace of a true philosopher, once beautifully noting, "I have never viewed anything that failed to come my way as a loss."

Despite his active political commentary, Salim Kumar never harboured ambitions for electoral politics or public office. He maintained a firm boundary between cinema and governance, stating that film stars generally do not translate well into effective politicians, citing the brief political stint of Amitabh Bachchan as an example. For Salim Kumar, political engagement was never about securing power, but rather about exercising his right to individual ideological freedom.

Following his passing, he is remembered not only for his cinematic contributions as a National Award-winning actor but also for his willingness to remain vocal and unwavering in his beliefs in an industry that largely values neutrality.