Sabarimala: A test of both party, CPM’s stand as BJP fields its temple face

Seven months later, the tussle over the Sabarimala temple has moved to the ballot paper in Pathanamthitta. Seeing a chance to make inroads in a state that it has struggled to win seats in despite a strong RSS presence, the BJP has fielded its Kerala general secretary, K Surendran, from the constituency

Spread over five Assembly segments in Pathanamthitta district and two in Kottayam, and including the Sabarimala hill shrine, the constituency has been won by the Congress’s Anto Antony since it came into being in 2009. However, last time Antony’s victory margin had come down to 56,000 votes from 1.16 lakh after the Left had fielded a Congress rebel, Philipose Thomas.

Hindus constitute 56.93 per cent of the population while Christians make up 38.12 per cent in the constituency, with the rest mostly Muslims.

While Antony is seeking a hat-trick of wins, the CPM has fielded its sitting Aranmula MLA, Veena George. But all eyes are on Surendran, who was the face of the Sabarimala agitation. The BJP brought him here to cash in on the Hindu anger over the LDF government’s decision to comply with the Supreme Court order to allow all women entry into the temple. Surendran is expected to attract some sympathy votes for the government slapping 242 cases against him over the Sabarimala violence.

Before this, Surendran had unsuccessfully contested the Lok Sabha elections of 2009 and 2014 from Kasaragod, and the Assembly polls of 2011 and 2016 from Manjeswar in Kasaragod district. He had lost in 2016 by a mere 89 votes.

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Consequently, the electoral narrative in Pathanamthitta is centred on faith, with the floods of last August that hit the area barely getting any attention. At Pathampuzha village near Poonjar, farmer Shankara Pillai, who is facing the brunt of a crisis in the rubber sector, is angrier with the CPM over CM Pinarayi Vijayan’s Sabarimala decisions. “People are hurt. Most of the temple-going Hindus in our region will vote for Surendran,” Pillai said.