A political firestorm erupted in Kerala after SNDP Yogam General Secretary Vellappally Natesan controversially claimed that Muslims would form the majority in the state by 2040. His comments, made during an SNDP leadership meeting in Kottayam, accused Muslim leaders of having disproportionate sway over the state’s administration and drew sharp criticism from the Congress and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
Natesan alleged that decisions by both ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) are often influenced by leaders from Malappuram, a Muslim-majority district. He also suggested that the IUML aimed to capture the Chief Minister’s post in the 2026 elections and that the Ezhava community, which SNDP represents, was being sidelined.
Congress leader VD Satheesan accused Natesan of echoing CPI(M)’s hidden agenda to polarise voters and betray Kerala’s secular values. The IUML, meanwhile, condemned the statements as blatantly communal and demanded legal action against Natesan. Religious bodies, including Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama, joined the condemnation.
The CPI(M), which relies on Ezhava support, walked a tightrope—distancing itself from Natesan’s statements while urging SNDP to uphold reformist values without inciting religious discord. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has previously defended Natesan, complicating the CPI(M)’s secular positioning.
Natesan remained defiant, claiming his critics were attempting to silence his calls for “social justice.” The controversy highlights the growing tension among non-BJP parties in Kerala, as caste and religion increasingly influence electoral strategies.