As Assembly elections are around the corner, the Sabarimala issue has once again gained traction and is creating problems for the Left Front. UDF and BJP have taken up the issue as a weapon for the upcoming election since CPM General Secretary Sitaram Yechury rejected the apology by Devaswom Minister Kadakampally Surendran.
While addressing a press conference today, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan alleged that Congress and BJP were united to eliminate the Left by fabricating false allegations against the government. He even said that in five years, the LDF government was able to convince people that election promises are not mere promises by implementing 570 promises out of 600 things said in the manifesto. The Chief Minister further stressed that the government implemented all the promises amidst natural calamity and the pandemic.
While reacting about the Sabarimala issue, he said that there is no confusion and the affidavit will be corrected when the case comes up for hearing. He further said that currently there is no issue over Sabarimala and said that they are waiting till the final verdict.
During the election campaign in the Kazhakoottam constituency, Kadakampally Surendran expressed "regret" over the implementation of the Supreme Court's order that had created turmoil in 2018-19. However, Yechury defended by justifying the LDF government's stand on the Sabarimala issue.
In the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the ruling CPM-led LDF government in Kerla had already burnt its fingers over the Sabarimala women entry issue, but now it looks like the campaigns of opposition parties are reaping the whirlwind again ahead of the Assembly elections.
Former Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has already said that the CPM was maintaining one stand to attract the voters by expressing regret over the issue, but their real stand was different. He even questioned that if the Left front really regretted over the issue, then they should have corrected the affidavit submitted before the Supreme Court supporting the entry of women of all ages to the temple.
