How Politically Strong is the Nair Community in Kerala?

The Nair community in Kerala holds a significant position in the political landscape. Understanding the political dynamics of Kerala is incomplete without delving into the Nairs' influence and their historical and contemporary role. This article explores the Nair community's political strength and its potential to break or make political parties.

Historical Influence and Political Strength

The Nairs, a historically influential community in Kerala, were historically the main political force in the region. From 1957 to 2001, Nairs and their allied Hindu castes held the position of Chief Minister almost exclusively. Exceptions to this rule, such as the brief tenure of CM Mohammed Koya, illustrate the significant sway the Nairs had over political power in the state.

Current Political Landscape and Division

However, the political influence of the Nairs is currently distributed across various fronts. Today, the community is split between the Left Democratic Front (LDF), United Democratic Front (UDF), and BJP. This division means that they do not possess a decisive role in any single political alliance. Nevertheless, their presence is significant due to the competitive nature of Kerala's democracy, where even a small percentage of votes can make a difference.

Thiyyar Community: A Substantial Force in Kerala Politics

While the Nairs are a significant force, it's worth noting the Thiyyar community. Thiyyars, who constitute approximately 7.9% of Kerala's population, are a small yet powerful community. They have a strong presence in various political positions and are highly regarded for their leadership skills.

Notable positions held by Thiyyars include:

Kerala Chief Minister: Pinarai Vijayan Kerala Health Minister: K.K. Shylaja Union Minister of State for External Affairs and Parliamentary Affairs: V. Muraleedharan Kerala BJP President: K. Surendhran CPIM State Secretary: A. Vijayaragavan KPCC President: Mullappally Ramachandran Kannur District Committee President: DCC President Kannur CPIM Party Secretary: P.Jayarajan

The Thiyyar community is well-regarded for their leadership and has produced many influential political leaders in Kerala. They are often seen as a powerful force in Kerala politics.

Comparisons with Other Caste Communities

One cannot help but compare the Nair community's influence with that of other caste communities. For example, the Yadav community in Bihar is well-known for its significant political influence. Their community, the Republican People's Party (RJD), has gained substantial strength and influence under the leadership of Lalu Prasad Yadav and his family.

While the Nairs do not have the same monopoly on political power as the Yadavs, they are still a notable presence. Their ability to infiltrate various political parties, especially the LDF, and their use of political patronage to gain influence are factors that cannot be ignored. However, their attempts to dominate other communities have historically failed, as seen in their repeated unsuccessful efforts to monopolize political control.

Conclusion: Current Status and Future Prospects

When evaluating the political strength of the Nair community in Kerala, it's clear that they are a significant force, but their influence is more nuanced and distributed. The community's current political landscape indicates a shared influence across multiple alliances, making it challenging for them to decisively break or make any one political party.

The Nairs' political power lies in their ability to navigate and influence multiple fronts, rather than dominating one single party. Their motto of 'discretion is better part of valor' signifies their strategic approach to political maneuvering.

Further research and data analysis might be needed to provide a clearer, more detailed understanding of the Nair community's political influence in contemporary Kerala.