THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State CPM Secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan has said that Travancore Devaswom Board President A Padmakumar has failed to project Communist viewpoints. “He has got caught in Devaswom Board’s traditional ways. The board has been following its traditional ways and means. Though it works according to this, Padmakumar is a Communist. Not only that, he is also a party district secretariat member. When he erred, the party intervened and corrected him,” Kodiyeri told a private channel in a recent interview.

“Padmakumar said the other day that several traditions in Sabarimala had underwent change. It is said that Malayara community used to make thenabhishekam (honey offering) but the Devaswom board has no documents to prove this.

This tradition also changed. 18 step were covered with panchalokam (five-metal alloy). Formerly water was taken from Bhasma kulam (pond) and mani kinar (well) and they have been covered. Attempts will be made to revive them,” he said.

Kodiyeri said that discussion will be held with people concerned after the final Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala is out. “In this matter, there is no change in the stand of Devaswom Board. The board has never stressed anywhere that young women should enter Sabarimala temple. Padmakumar had said that the board stood for tradition and customs,” he said.