Kamal Ghorui
NEW DELHI: Bharatiya Janata Party on Tuesday criticised the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government in Kerala and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) over their “U-turn” on Sabarimala women entry issue. The saffron party added that though it was “happy” with their stance now, it sought clarification over the shift. Both LDF and UDF had hailed the SC’s 2018 verdict which allowed entry of women of all ages into Sabarimala temple. However, both the parties have softened their stance on the same.“BJP is the only political party which has taken a consistent stand to protect the faith of Sabarimala devotees,” said state BJP chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar in a press conference.He alleged that the state government had filed over 3,000 cases against those who protested the entry of young women into the Sabarimala temple, and urged authorities to withdraw them immediately.He added that the Left government still has a chance to “correct its mistake” by withdrawing the cases filed against Ayyappa devotees. Alleging that both political fronts have changed their stance on the Lord Ayyappa temple issue, the BJP leader said he was nonetheless “happy” with the shift, and urged them to explain the reasons behind it.He said that as the Supreme Court begins hearing the matter, the people of Kerala should remember the positions earlier taken by both the LDF and the UDF on women’s entry.In a marked contrast to its earlier stance, the Left government, which had backed the 2018 Supreme Court verdict allowing women of all ages into Sabarimala and ensured police protection for those who entered, has sifted its approach. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s government has been stepping up outreach to Hindu organisations. Through the Travancore Devaswom Board, it organised the Global Ayyappa Sangamam in 2025, projecting Sabarimala as a traditional global pilgrimage centre.The hearing comes as Kerala is set to go to polls in single phase on April 9. The counting of votes will be on May 4.
