Travancore Devaswom Board: TK Devakumar likely to be president

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The current Devaswom Board will not get an extension following the Kerala High Court’s latest comments in the Sabarimala gold theft case. The new Devaswom Board president will be decided today at the CPM state secretariat meeting. Former Harippad MLA, Alappuzha district secretariat member, and Coirfed chairman T.K. Devakumar is the most likely choice. Former MP A. Sampath is also being seriously considered.

The term of the current president P.S. Prasanth and board member A. Ajikumar ends on the 12th. CPI state committee member Vilappil Radhakrishnan will replace Ajikumar on the board. The government and the Devaswom Department had earlier planned to let the existing board continue until the end of the mandala season. An ordinance was also being prepared to extend their term. However, the High Court’s remarks have made that difficult. There are now concerns that extending the term of the board through an ordinance could invite further court challenges. The government also faces uncertainty in case the Governor refuses to sign the ordinance after the court’s observations.

The High Court’s reference to the replacement of the temple’s dwarapalaka statue for repairs last September had put the present board under pressure. The new CPI-nominated member, Vilappil Radhakrishnan, currently serves as the chairman of the Welfare Committee of the Thiruvananthapuram District Panchayat. In the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe reserved category, CPM representative P.D. Santosh Kumar had taken charge two months ago.