THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore Devaswom Board has sought explanation from tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru following Sreedharan Pillai's revelation that tantri had called Pillai before announcing that he will close the temple if young women enter Sabarimala. Devaswom board member Shankar Das has clarified this. However, devaswom board president A Padmakumar had come forward supporting the tantri.

Earilier, Sreedharan Pillai had said during a Yuva Morcha function that Rajeevarau had taken a decision to close the temple in consultation with him. This had stoked controversy, following which the thantri himself came up with the explanation.

Thantri Kandararu Rajeevararu has said that he had not sought any advice of anyone regarding the closing of Sabarimala temple in case young women entered the temple. “I have not contacted BJP State president P S Sreedharan Pillai over the phone. I had got a letter from Pandalam Palace in this regard. Other than that, I had not taken any advice from anyone. All news that we hear today in this regard is baseless,” he clarified.