Kottayam: With the election verdict in Kerala placing the Congress-led UDF in the race to form government, Nair Service Society (NSS) general secretary G. Sukumaran Nair on Wednesday described the outcome as a “triumph of democracy”, rejecting claims that the result stemmed from individual political skill.

The Congress secured 63 seats in the 140-member Kerala Assembly, while its ally IUML won 22, as the UDF unseated the LDF after 10 years in power. “Some claim this victory came from their own ability. Not at all. People were pushed to the limit. It was a vote cast to bring change. It has only reflected in favour of the Congress and the UDF,” the leader of one of the major Hindu caste organisations said, speaking to mediapersons in Perunna.

‘No objection to chief minister choice’

Sukumaran Nair said the Congress was free to choose its chief minister, making clear there was “no objection” to any nominee. “Whoever the Congress makes Chief Minister, there is no opposition. Capable and experienced people should be appointed. I am not pointing to any individual. These matters are usually decided by the Congress central leadership. Let them decide,” he said.

On being asked about V. D. Satheesan, he added, “Isn’t that the Congress’s decision? It has to be accepted.” He also said that while the NSS maintained an equidistant stance during the election, certain disagreements with Satheesan flagged earlier remain. “Those differences still remain. I will not ask for them to be corrected,” he said.

‘No undue demands from new government’

The NSS, he said, would seek only what it is entitled to from the incoming government. “We will only ask for what we are entitled to. We are not interested in positions unnecessarily or in obtaining anything unlawfully. We have not secured anything in that manner so far. If anything has been secured, it is because we approached the court when it was not done,” he said.

‘Vote driven by public sentiment’

Sukumaran Nair said the verdict reflected public sentiment for change. “When people felt the need to regain their place in their minds, they voted. With no other option, it went to the Congress,” he said, adding that ministerial defeats were shaped by the same mood.

On Pathanapuram, where Minister K. B. Ganesh Kumar lost, he reiterated that the NSS remained neutral. “In Pathanapuram too, Nairs were told to vote equidistantly. No instruction was given from here to ensure victory or defeat,” he said.