The Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) stopped short of boycotting the upcoming Global Ayyappa Sangamam but demanded the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government clarify its role in the 2018 Sabarimala controversy. The move has intensified tensions, with Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan accusing the UDF of politicizing the event, scheduled for September 20 at Pampa to mark the Travancore Devaswom Board’s (TDB) 75th anniversary.

Opposition Leader V D Satheesan, addressing a press conference after a UDF meeting, accused the LDF of undermining Sabarimala’s centuries-old traditions by altering a Supreme Court affidavit in 2018 to support women’s entry into the temple, which sparked widespread protests. “The LDF government created unrest by backing actions that broke long-standing customs,” Satheesan said, flanked by UDF convenor Adoor Prakash. He demanded answers on why cases against devotees who protested the entry of women aged 10-50 remain unresolved and why the temple’s annual covenant funds have been pending for three years. “Let the government respond first. Only then will we decide on participating,” he stated, labeling the LDF’s approach as “deceitful.”

Satheesan also addressed a misunderstanding regarding an invitation from TDB president P S Prasanth, denying reports that he refused to meet him. “My name was added to the panel without consent, and no prior confirmation was sought,” he clarified, expressing willingness to meet Prasanth if approached formally. The UDF’s stance reflects a calculated strategy to pressure the LDF without committing to a boycott, keeping the door open for dialogue while highlighting grievances.

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Responding to the UDF’s demands, Minister Vasavan dismissed them as political posturing, insisting the Sangamam focuses solely on Sabarimala’s development. On the issue of pending cases against 2018 protesters, he noted that minor cases have been withdrawn, but serious non-bailable offenses require court approval. Vasavan refrained from commenting on the Supreme Court affidavit, citing the ongoing review petition as sub judice. “The government has no adamant stand on these matters,” he said, aiming to defuse the controversy.

The Global Ayyappa Sangamam, intended to unite devotees and promote Sabarimala as a global pilgrimage center, has become a political flashpoint. The 2018 Supreme Court ruling, which lifted the ban on women of menstruating age entering the temple, remains a contentious issue, with a larger bench currently reviewing the verdict. The LDF’s decision to facilitate women’s entry at the time drew sharp criticism from Ayyappa devotees, the UDF, and the Sangh Parivar, who accused the government of disregarding sacred traditions.

As the Sangamam approaches, the UDF’s demands and the LDF’s defensive stance underscore the delicate interplay of faith, politics, and tradition in Kerala. The event’s outcome could shape public perception and influence the state’s political landscape ahead of upcoming elections, with both sides vying to align themselves with devotees’ sentiments while navigating the legal and cultural complexities of the Sabarimala issue.

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