V. D. Satheesan has built his political career step by step, without much noise, but with steady growth. At 61, he is now one of the main faces of the Congress in Kerala and currently serves as the Leader of the Opposition.
Satheesan started out as a lawyer and was active in student politics from his early days. He entered the Assembly in 2001 from Paravur and has held the seat ever since, election after election. Over time, he has built a strong local base and a reputation for staying connected with people in his constituency.
In 2021, after the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) lost the Assembly election, Satheesan was chosen to lead the opposition. Since then, he has focused on strengthening the party on the ground and raising issues against the government inside and outside the Assembly. His style is simple and direct — not loud, but consistent.
Within the Congress and the UDF, Satheesan is now seen as a leading contender for the Chief Minister’s post if the UDF comes to power. His name has been backed by key leaders, reflecting his growing importance.
As Kerala heads into another election, Satheesan is not just leading the opposition. He is emerging as one of the central figures in the Congress’s attempt to return to power.
In Tamil Nadu, authorities continue the investigation into granite baron R Veeramani over minor sexual assault allegations, conducting premises raids, tracing financial transactions, and seizing electronic devices following recent arrests. Political parties debate administrative delays in earlier probes as widespread power outages lead Chief Minister Vijay to inspect the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board headquarters. In Karnataka, the Bharatiya Janata Party stages demonstrations demanding the resignation of Chief Minister DK Shivakumar over a finance department circular regarding unbudgeted schemes. In Kerala, Chief Minister VD Satheesan responds to opposition claims concerning ministerial overseas travel and chartered flights. Additionally, the bulletin details reported procedural differences within the Election Commission over voter roll processes, campus security protests at Delhi's Lady Shri Ram College, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar's bilateral meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the United Nations General Assembly, US President Donald Trump's UNGA speech on Iran, and weightlifter Mirabai Chanu's Asian Games medal victory.
A bike rider met with a horrific accident on the Container Road highway in Ernakulam, leaving him injured and lying on the road. Passing through his constituency of Paravur for scheduled events, Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan spotted the victim and immediately halted his convoy. Prioritising the victim's life over his schedule and security, the Chief Minister instructed that his pilot vehicle be deployed as an emergency ambulance. Assisting local residents at the spot, the security team shifted the injured young man into the pilot vehicle and rushed him to the hospital. A video capturing the rescue went viral, drawing praise from the public while also raising questions regarding road safety and ambulance availability.
In an interview, Kerala BJP Chief and Nemom MLA Rajeev Chandrasekhar discusses Kerala's political landscape, governance, and economic challenges. Criticizing the past decade under the CPM, he states, "It was not a Kerala model, it was a CPM model. And that model was a very, very dysfunctional model." Chandrasekhar evaluates the state's financial crisis, emphasizing that severe debt and lack of investment pose major headwinds for Chief Minister VD Satheesan's administration. He addresses controversies surrounding UPI merchant discount rates, terming opposition criticism manufactured and affirming that consumer transactions remain unaffected. He also comments on the Vande Mataram controversy, asserting that constitutional laws must be upheld uniformly across all states.
Speaking at the India Today Roundtable, CPI(M) State Secretariat member and former Kerala minister MB Rajesh addressed the Left Democratic Front's recent electoral setback and detailed the party's introspection process. Rajesh stated that the Left conducted thorough reviews from the grassroots to the top level, identifying both objective and subjective factors behind the election results. Defending the Left's legacy, he highlighted major achievements in infrastructure development through KIIFB, high per-capita GDP growth, and strong education indicators. He dismissed allegations against former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by central agencies, claiming the Enforcement Directorate is being used as a political weapon. Rajesh further alleged that the Congress-led UDF government acts as the 'B team of BJP' on key policy decisions. Asserting that the Left's core mass base remains intact, he maintained that the party will continue grassroot struggles and make a strong political comeback across Kerala and West Bengal.
On this edition of Super 6, discussions focus on major political and legal developments across southern states.
At the India Today Kerala Roundtable, differing views emerged within the United Democratic Front coalition regarding remarks made by Muslim cleric Kanthapuram Abu Bakar Musliyar. While coalition leaders and ministers condemned the cleric's remarks asking women to stay indoors and not appear in public, Indian Union Muslim League legislator Fatima Thaliyah defended the cleric's constitutional right to express his opinion despite disagreeing with the view. The discussions highlighted political stances on gender equality and secularism across the state.
A political showdown has erupted over the introduction of a 0.4% Merchant Discount Rate on select UPI transactions above 2,000 rupees.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay concludes his week-long official tour of the United Kingdom, where the state government signed memoranda of understanding worth twelve thousand three hundred crore rupees, projected to generate over nine thousand four hundred jobs.
This edition of Super 6 on India Today, anchored by Akshita Anand Gopal, covers major political developments across India and international headlines.
A major controversy erupted in Kerala following remarks by Islamic scholar and Samastha leader Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar regarding the role of women in society. Musliyar issued a clarification after facing severe criticism, stating that his organisation never advocated confining women or treating them as second-class citizens, noting that institutions under their management offer education to women. Earlier, Musliyar had asserted that women should primarily stay at home to preserve their dignity, as according to him, it was prescribed in the Holy Quran. Kerala Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan strongly countered this perspective, asserting that women must participate across all spheres of life and citing Islamic history where women led armies, ruled kingdoms, and managed major businesses. The political controversy follows a Samastha circular urging curbs on women participating publicly in festival celebrations, triggering widespread debate on constitutional democracy, gender equality, and progressive values in the state.
A major political debate has broken out over the appointment of retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as the Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust.
A major political debate has broken out over the appointment of retired Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra as the Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. The discussion features sharp exchanges between Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Sanju Varma, Congress spokesperson Pankhuri Pathak, political analyst Ashutosh, and political commentator Sujata Pandey. Congress leaders raised questions regarding the administrative appointment and demanded a forensic audit into allegations of financial misappropriation and donation theft. Defending the appointment, the BJP and panelists emphasized the decorated military career of the former Western Air Command chief and accused the opposition of double standards by highlighting unresolved financial irregularities at the Sabarimala temple in Kerala. Panelists also debated the scope of authority granted to the new CEO to restore institutional transparency and devotee confidence.
A controversy has erupted in Kerala after the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama faction backed Grand Mufti Kanthapuram A. P. Aboobacker Musliyar over remarks restricting women to their homes. The clerical body defended the statements, asserting that clerics should not be belittled for religious declarations and that those who disagree must respect them. This development comes following a meeting between leaders of the Kanthapuram faction and Kerala Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan. The leaders expressed their displeasure over the Chief Minister's strong rebuttal, in which he defended Muslim women's rights to participate in the mainstream and cited examples of prominent women from Islamic history. The Samastha leadership raised objections, stating the Chief Minister misinterpreted Islamic history and created an impression that religious scholars were unaware of their own faith. The cleric's earlier circular and comments advising women against public appearances continue to trigger significant political debate across the state.
A controversy erupted in Kerala following regressive remarks by cleric Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker regarding women, prompting strong political objections. Representatives of the Samastha faction held a meeting to register their protest and dissatisfaction over the political response. While the leadership asserted that individuals have the right to support or oppose remarks, they expressed concern over the misinterpretation of Islamic history. The political response cited prominent figures from Islamic history, such as Khadija being an entrepreneur and Aisha participating in battle, to argue that women should participate in the mainstream rather than remain confined to homes. The cleric had stated that women must remain indoors, asserting that modesty maintains dignity. Samastha leaders conveyed that political leaders should avoid claiming religious scholars misunderstand their faith.
A controversy has erupted in Kerala following remarks by Sunni scholar Kanthapuram AP Abu Bakar Musliar, who stated that women must remain confined to their homes for safety and questioned their presence on public platforms. Samastha president Jifry Muthukoya Thangal backed the cleric, stating that religious scholars should not be belittled for speaking on religious matters and that those who disagree can choose not to accept the views. The remarks drew criticism from Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan, who stated that confining women to homes has no place in a progressive Kerala and cited Islamic history to counter the assertions.
This special news broadcast reports on major political and civic developments across the country. In Tamil Nadu, Chief Minister Vijay announced the withdrawal of protest-related cases filed against farmers and teachers between May 2021 and April 2026, including agitations concerning the Sipcot and Parandur airport projects, as discussions continue over Thamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam positioning Vijay as a Prime Ministerial candidate for 2029 amid friction with the Congress, DMK, BJP, and AIADMK. In Ayodhya, former Air Marshal Jitendra Mishra has been appointed the first Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Ram Janmbhoomi Teerth Kshetra Trust. In Kerala, remarks by cleric Kanthapuram A. P. Abu Bakar Musliyar regarding women in public spaces drew political condemnation. In Telangana, BRS leader K. T. Rama Rao criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy over interstate river water sharing, while in Andhra Pradesh, an anti-malaria drive in Polavaram led to the death of a child and multiple hospitalisations.
A major controversy has erupted in Kerala following remarks by Muslim cleric and Grand Mufti of India, Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliyar, asserting that women should remain confined within the four walls of their homes and must not appear publicly. Citing religious scriptures, the cleric claimed that women's modesty and dignity are protected when they avoid public life. The remarks have drawn severe criticism and condemnation from political leaders, who stated that such regressive ideas belong to the nineteenth century and cannot be accepted in a progressive twenty-first-century society. Critics pointed out that Islamic history itself provides examples of female leadership and empowerment, including prominent businesswomen and leaders. Meanwhile, political ally Indian Union Muslim League sought to defend the cleric by framing his remarks around women's safety concerns, triggering debate within the United Democratic Front alliance regarding its stance on women's rights and empowerment.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay’s political positioning is drawing attention as the TVK projects him as a potential contender for the 2029 Prime Ministerial race.
Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan said he was deeply concerned over the Union government’s reported plan to introduce the Delimitation Bill in Parliament, arguing that southern states that successfully controlled population growth could suffer the most in any seat redistribution.
In Tamil Nadu, a political row has erupted over a midnight police inquiry and the alleged detention of DMK Gen Z committee leader who mocked the Chief Minister on social media, sparking clashes between the ruling and opposition parties.
