Venugopal Accuses CPM of Sabarimala Policy 'Somersault' Ahead of Kerala Assembly Elections
In a sharp political attack, AICC general secretary K C Venugopal on Saturday alleged that the Communist Party of India (Marxist)'s latest position on the Sabarimala women's entry issue represents a dramatic somersault made explicitly in the backdrop of the impending Kerala assembly elections. Speaking to reporters in Guruvayur, Venugopal claimed that numerous public turbulences could have been avoided had the state government adopted a more mature approach immediately following the Supreme Court's landmark order.
Government Failure to Build Consensus Created Unnecessary Hardship
Venugopal asserted that the Kerala government should have urgently convened a meeting of all stakeholders—including religious leaders, political parties, and community representatives—to forge a workable consensus after the Supreme Court pronounced its verdict permitting women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala hill shrine. "The government could have then formally communicated this consensus, along with the practical constraints in implementing the court's order, back to the apex judiciary," he explained.
"Many devout followers endured severe hardships, with some even facing legal cases registered against them. All this suffering occurred directly because of the anti-faith stance stubbornly maintained by the CPM and the chief minister," Venugopal alleged, highlighting what he described as unnecessary conflict and division.
LDF's Changed Stance Viewed as Electoral Escape Route
The Congress leader argued that the Left Democratic Front government has now altered its position purely as an escape route from the politically precarious situation it faces on the electoral front. "Although the CPM has belatedly changed its stand with a clear eye on the upcoming elections, this reversal is nevertheless a positive development," Venugopal conceded, while maintaining his criticism of the timing and motivation.
He further criticized the government for announcing numerous decisions toward the fag end of its tenure, many of which can only be implemented by a successor administration. "A United Democratic Front government is poised to assume power in Kerala shortly, and it will systematically cancel all the anti-people decisions enacted by the outgoing LDF regime," Venugopal confidently predicted, signaling intense political battles ahead.
BJP Leader Pillai Ridicules CPM and Congress for 'Opportunism'
Adding another dimension to the controversy, BJP leader and former Goa governor P S Sreedharan Pillai launched a scathing attack on both the CPM and the Congress, accusing them of blatant political opportunism. Pillai recalled that the CPM had initially hailed the Supreme Court's Sabarimala order as a progressive development, while the Congress had also adopted a similar supportive stance initially.
"As the BJP state president at that time, I consistently argued that a conclave of respected religious scholars should be empowered to decide this sensitive matter," Pillai stated. "Now that both parties have completely reversed their positions, they owe a sincere apology to the people of Kerala. The CPM would undoubtedly win first prize if an award were instituted for those practising opportunism at the highest level," he quipped, delivering a biting critique of what he perceives as unprincipled political maneuvering.
The evolving political discourse around Sabarimala continues to highlight deep-seated tensions between judicial mandates, religious traditions, and electoral calculations, with all major parties positioning themselves strategically as Kerala approaches a crucial electoral contest.
