Satchidanandan refuses to backtrack, says democracy needs alternation of power

K. Satchidanandan, president of the Sahitya Akademi, has defended his criticism of prolonged rule, arguing that true democracy requires listening to marginalized voices and empowering the poor, workers, and minorities. He refuted accusations from critics, including Karivelloor Murali, secretary of the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Akademi, who accused him of being part of a political agenda. Murali also claimed that Satchidanandan had admitted to memory lapses in his speeches. The controversy has drawn criticism from other literary figures like Asokan Cheruvil, further escalating the debate surrounding Kerala's electoral landscape.