After Natesan’s dare, Satheesan says will go on political exile if no thumping win for UDF in 2026

Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan on Monday said that he would choose a ‘political exile’ if he fails to bring the Congress-led UDF back to power in Kerala with a thumping majority.

The Congress leader made the seemingly bold political statement in response to the frequent criticism raised against him by SNDP Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan. Asserting that the UDF won’t win the 2026 assembly elections, Natesan had on Sunday said that he would quit his post if the UDF wins 100 seats, as Satheesan keeps claiming.

He wanted to know if Satheesan would go into political exile if his claims proved to be wrong. Natesan has been raising a scathing attack, including offensive remarks, against Satheesan on several occasions in the past few days.

“I don’t want to pose any challenge to Vellappally. He asked if I would go on a political vanvaas if the UDF doesn’t come to power with a thumping majority. I will, if we can’t bring UDF back to power with a thumping majority. Then you will not see me (in politics). But Vellappally should not resign even if the UDF wins over 100 seats. He should remain on the post lifelong,” Satheesan told reporters in Kochi on Monday. Natesan has been the SNDP Yogam general secretary for the past 30 years.

Satheesan also took a jibe at Natesan’s remark that UDF won’t even win 98 seats. “A seasoned political observer like him has agreed that UDF can win up to 97 seats. We will make it over 100 by working hard,” he said.

Satheesan reiterated his criticism that Natesan was making comments that are against the ideals Sree Narayana Guru, the social reformer who founded SNDP Yogam, stood for. Natesan has repeatedly accused Satheesan of being arrogant and against the Ezhava community represented by the former.