Archive · 7 Sep 2026
BJP Alleges Religious Groups Are Pressuring Kerala Government
The BJP said religious groups are trying to influence Kerala’s government.
BJP leader P.K. Krishnadas pointed to an article asking Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan to speak politely.
He said this was more than ordinary criticism and amounted to pressure.
Krishnadas linked the article to the Indian Union Muslim League, which is part of the ruling alliance.
He also mentioned an MLA’s demand to withdraw police cases against a YouTuber.
The BJP said elected politicians, rather than religious organisations, should control the government.
Krishnadas accused the Congress of staying quiet because of political interests.
He said the BJP disagrees with Satheesan but still opposes what it described as intimidation.
He also criticised CPI(M) leader P. Jayarajan over remarks concerning the BJP.
BJP leader P.K. Krishnadas accused religious organisations of pressuring Kerala’s elected government and Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan.
He cited an article from the E.K. faction of Samastha urging the Chief Minister to speak with decorum.
Krishnadas alleged that the Indian Union Muslim League was using Samastha to pressure Satheesan, an ally in the ruling United Democratic Front.
He also pointed to Muslim League MLA Firoz’s demand that police cases against YouTuber Abdul Basil be withdrawn.
The BJP said it opposes intimidation politics while maintaining that its criticism does not amount to support for Satheesan or the Congress.
- Who
- BJP national executive member P.K. Krishnadas made the allegations, referring to Samastha, the Indian Union Muslim League, Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan and Congress leaders.
- What
- The BJP alleged that religious organisations and allied political figures were attempting to pressure and influence Kerala’s government.
- When
- The allegations were made on Monday; the article cited by Krishnadas was described as a recent development.
- Where
- Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
- Why
- Krishnadas said religious pressure on elected officials threatened democracy, secularism and social harmony.
BJP’s Allegation
Reported Actions Cited
Religious influence over government
BJP’s Allegation
The BJP said Samastha and political organisations connected to the ruling alliance were trying to pressure the Chief Minister and shift control of government toward religious groups.
Reported Actions Cited
The Samastha article criticised the Chief Minister’s manner of speaking, while the article also reported a Muslim League MLA’s public demand to withdraw cases against Abdul Basil; the stated reasons for these actions were not provided.
Meaning of the criticism
BJP’s Allegation
Krishnadas described the Samastha article as a threat and insult rather than ordinary political criticism.
Reported Actions Cited
The reported Samastha headline called for the Chief Minister to speak with decorum, but the source article does not include a direct response from Samastha or the Muslim League defending the wording.
Congress response
BJP’s Allegation
The BJP alleged that Congress was remaining silent and avoiding confrontation with religious organisations for political reasons.
Reported Actions Cited
The article reports that AICC General Secretary K.C. Venugopal said the party’s position would be clarified later; no further Congress response is provided.
- Speaker
- P.K. Krishnadas, BJP national executive member
- Chief Minister named
- V.D. Satheesan
- Organisation cited
- The E.K. faction of Samastha
- Political ally mentioned
- Indian Union Muslim League
- Ruling alliance
- United Democratic Front
- Other issue cited
- MLA Firoz’s demand to withdraw police cases against YouTuber Abdul Basil
- BJP position
- Opposition to alleged intimidation politics, not support for Satheesan