THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Sabarimala women’s entry was the only issue responsible for the LDF’s set back in the Lok Sabha polls held in 2019. However, a year later though the government eased its earlier stand, the gold smuggling case and the repeated investigations declared by probe agencies forced the opposition to attack the government on later issues and to retreat on Sabarimala during the local body polls. In one phase, the party even gave nod not to put the chief minister’s image in the posters on the inference that it may backfire. CPM also conducted several protest and agitations over the unconstitutional investigations conducted by the probe agencies, but proving all calculations wrong LDF secured a landslide victory in the local body polls. Now, the opposition which realised that gold smuggling may not yield any result is again trying to make a comeback with the Sabarimala issue.

Started with Devaswom minister’s apology

This time, the Sabarimala issue made inroads into the polls, with the Devaswom minister’s unexpected apology to the devotees. Kadakampally who is seeking a mandate from the Kazhakootam constituency apologised for the inconvenience caused to devotees during an interview given to a media outlet. But later the party rejected his apology. With this the moment, long-awaited by the opposition has finally come true. The opposition also lashed out at the U-turn taken by the government over the Sabarimala issue. Neither the government nor the left parties have replied to the question of opposition that if they genuinely likes to protect the customs in the sacred shrine, then will the government withdraw the affidavit filed before the apex court, supporting women’s entry.

NSS fired the cannons on the voting day

Even though the chief minister said that certain bombs will explode, it was Sukumaran Nair who exploded the bombs. G Sukumaran Nair after casting his votes, told presspersons that he believes that the people of the state, wants a change in the government. “A government which upholds the values of secularism and social justice must rule the state. Believers in the state are agitated and dissatisfied,” he said. This statement of the NSS general secretary has enabled the opposition to launch further attacks on the government over the Sabarimala.

The chief minister’s statement which came in response to Nair’s statement led to further discussions. The chief minister who said Ayyapan and other celestial gods only stand with those who does good things further reiterated that LDF will secure a landslide victory in the polls. Oommen Chandy has raised the Sabarimala issue against his usual manner of issuing a political statment. He said that the chief minister is taking a U-turn on the issue fearing the wrath of the devotees and reminded about issuing police security to the women who wanted to get inside the shrine. Other left leaders have also issued statements similar to the chief minister’s to ensure the votes of the devotees in the state.