Kottayam (Kerala) | Former minister and actor K B Ganesh Kumar will no longer be a member of the NSS board of directors as the organisation has decided against reappointing him following the end of his tenure, an office-bearer said on Saturday.

The Nair Service Society (NSS) is a key organisation representing the influential Nair community in Kerala, and it had included Kumar, chairman of Kerala Congress (B), on its director board in 2023.

He was the transport minister in the LDF government but faced defeat in the recent assembly election at Pathanapuram in Kollam district.

NSS General Secretary G Sukumaran Nair told reporters here that Kumar's tenure had ended and that he was not selected for another term.

"He has not been removed from the board. His tenure ended and he was not selected again," Nair said.

He rejected allegations that the decision was undemocratic.

"There are members who have been waiting for years to become part of the board. Appointments and removals are based on the work carried out at the NSS taluk level," he said.

Nair said Kumar was free to approach the court if he believed there had been any irregularity.

"If there was anything irregular, he could have filed a case. Why has he not done so? Will anyone say there is no democracy in NSS?" he asked.

The controversy follows the dissolution of the NSS Pathanapuram Taluk Union Committee headed by Kumar after a majority of its members resigned.

Kumar had alleged that he enjoyed the support of 12 of the committee's 18 members, yet the committee was dissolved and replaced with an ad hoc committee.

Responding to the decision to not reappoint him as the board member, Kumar said he was not concerned about positions.

"I did not request to continue on the board. Earlier, I was elected without I am seeking the position. The general secretary has the freedom to take such decisions. I came to NSS not for positions. I will continue to support the General Secretary," he said.

When asked whether political pressure had influenced the NSS decision, Kumar said he could not comment.

"There may be pressure, but I cannot say anything about it now. How can I know whether there is pressure? Positions are not important to me," he said.

"NSS general secretary has full authority to decide who should be on the director board. Last time, he appointed me based on his assessment. Now he has taken a different decision," Kumar added.

However, he alleged that the dissolution of the Pathanapuram Taluk Union Committee was undemocratic.

"My opinion is that what happened there was not proper. I can prove it and I have evidence. But I will not file a case against NSS," he said.

Kumar said he possessed documents signed by the 12 members who supported him and could produce them before the media if required.

Referring to allegations of irregularities in the construction of Padma Cafe, an NSS women's empowerment venture in Pathanapuram, Kumar defended the project.

"People can come and inspect it. We have also built an air-conditioned hall, accommodation for workers, parking, a waste management system, and a solar power system. The most modern Padma Cafe in Kerala has been built in Pathanapuram. It has been completed, though it is yet to become operational," he said.

Kumar also dismissed suggestions that a dispute with NSS had contributed to his defeat in the Assembly election.

"That happened because RSS supporters voted for the Congress. Many NSS members who are also associated with the RSS voted against me," he said.

Further, he said he was not disappointed by the developments as his family had longstanding ties with the organisation.

"My father, R Balakrishna Pillai, led the Pathanapuram NSS Taluk Union for 64 years. Our family has had close ties with NSS since my grandfather's time and that will continue. There is no need for concern as I will continue to stand with the general secretary," he said.