THRISSUR: While claiming that the Sabarimala issue will be a major campaign issue in the upcoming assembly elections, former cricketer and BJP MP Gautam Gambhir added that the Kerala government had played with the sentiments of Hindus. According to Gambhir, the LDF government will have to respond to the believers whose sentiments were greatly affected due to the Sabarimala issue.

He also took a dig at the state government by saying that everybody saw what happened in the gold smuggling case. "The gold smuggling took place right under the nose of the Chief Minister. This time the people will realize this and vote for the BJP," the MP said. Gambhir also said that E Sreedharan, who is contesting from Palakkad, and Suresh Gopi, who is contesting from Thrissur, are not only famous but also honest.