Kerala’s Ruling Party Signals Shift on Sabarimala Temple Entry
Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala – – Kerala’s ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) appears to be reassessing its position on the contentious issue of women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple, ahead of the state’s 2026 assembly elections. The shift comes after years of protests and political debate following a 2018 Supreme Court ruling that allowed women of menstrual age to enter the temple.
The state government, led by Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, now describes the issue of women’s entry as a “closed matter,” signaling a move to align with the sentiments of devotees. This represents a significant departure from the government’s previous stance, which involved implementing the Supreme Court’s order and facing subsequent backlash from Hindu organizations.
The change in approach coincides with preparations for the ‘Global Ayyappa Sangamam,’ an international summit organized by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), the body that manages the hill shrine. The summit, scheduled for September 20th, aims to showcase Sabarimala as a “divine, traditional, and sustainable global pilgrimage centre.” Chief Minister Vijayan, along with cabinet colleagues, spiritual leaders, opposition figures, and Ayyappa devotees from around the world, are expected to attend.
Political analysts suggest this move is a deliberate attempt by Vijayan to appeal to Hindu voters, a significant demographic in Kerala. “For the first time, CPM is trying to influence the majority community and do social engineering through the Hindu community,” said G Gopa Kumar, a political scientist, according to reports.
The shift has reportedly upset both the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Indian National Congress, the state’s main opposition parties.
The original Supreme Court ruling in 2018 sparked widespread protests, with many Hindu organizations accusing the government of violating tradition. Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi criticized the move during a 2019 election rally, stating, “We knew that communists do not respect Indian history, culture and spirituality but nobody imagined that they will have such hatred.”
However, the current stance of the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government suggests a recalibration of priorities as the election nears. While the government’s position appears to be evolving, CPM state secretary M.V. Govindan recently indicated that the party’s stance and the government’s position may not always be aligned.
“The stand adopted by the party is a different matter. The position taken by the party and the government may not be the same. The government will always have its own stand,” Govindan said, addressing reporters in Palakkad on Monday. He also stated that it should not be assumed that the CPM’s position as a party or the LDF as a front would be automatically implemented by the government.
The resurfacing of the Sabarimala issue has triggered a fresh political debate in Kerala, with opposition parties urging the LDF government to clarify its position on the entry of young women into the shrine. The Supreme Court is currently reviewing petitions related to its 2018 verdict, adding another layer of complexity to the situation.
The evolving dynamics surrounding Sabarimala underscore the delicate balance the Kerala government is attempting to strike between upholding the law, respecting religious traditions, and navigating the political landscape ahead of the crucial 2026 assembly elections.
