“Not only all the Malayalee authors but even the Kerala government officials rooted for Nair whom I consider a good friend. But some Bengali authors led by Mahasweta Devi campaigned against me. It’s so mean and unfortunate. I feel frustrated,” the author told The Indian Express over the phone from Delhi.

He said Mahasweta Devi did this out of sheer jealousy. “She must have been jealous because she lost the elections to the same post in 2003. I don’t see any other reason why she should do it,” the 73-year-old author, who has spent more than 50 in the literary field.

Mahasweta, who admitted to having written to Akademi members seeking support for Nair, saw red at this accusation. “Who is Sunil? As a writer...Well, I don’t want to say anything. How can he say that I have campaigned against him out of jealousy? He has won with the help of the BJP,” said the 82-year old author, who has won the Gyanpith award in literature and Magsaysay award for social service.