Anurag, from Ezhava community, new Kazhakam staff at Koodalmanikyam temple

KOCHI: KS Anurag, a member of the Ezhava community, will be appointed Kazhakam staff in the Koodalmanikyam temple to replace Aryanad native BA Balu, who resigned following heinous caste discrimination. The Kerala Devaswom Recruitment Board sent the advice memo for the appointment to the Koodalmanikyam temple on Wednesday.

Anurag will start work as soon as he receives the appointment order from the Devaswom. Although the administrator can issue an appointment order as per the advice memo, it is likely to be left for consideration by the Devaswom Governing Council meeting, minding the controversy included.

B.A. Balu, ranked first on the list and an MA holder, was appointed in the general sector, despite coming from the Ezhava community. 23-year-old Anurag from the supplementary list got the opportunity because the second position was reserved for Ezhavas.

Anurag, a native of Kalavamkodam, Cherthala, is a B.Com graduate. He currently works in an auditing firm in Ernakulam. Two of his paternal relatives are priests. One among them is a priest in the Travancore Devaswom Board-controlled temple.

Kerala Kaumudi brought out the boycott made by six tantrics in the Koodalmanikyam temple after BA Balu took charge as the Kazhakam staff on February 24. The Brahmin priests attended the temple ritual only after Balu was moved from his post to the office attendant position.

The Koodalmanikyam festival will be held on May 8. Tantri pujas are to be held daily during the ten-day festival. It remains to be seen whether the tantris will boycott the festival if Anurag takes charge.