In Kottayam, a former member of the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) has made a strong statement about a recent religious controversy. K Raghavan, who served as a CPM representative on the board, has denied any knowledge or involvement in the handover of the 'vaji vahanam' to tanthri Kandararu Rajeevaru.
Raghavan's Clear Denial
Raghavan stated that the responsibility for this action lay solely with Congress representatives Prayar Gopalakrishnan and Ajay Tharayil. He emphasized that during his tenure on the board, no discussions about handing over the horse effigy ever took place in any official meetings.
No Board Meeting Discussions
"I have no information regarding them," Raghavan said firmly. He explained that the decision to replace the old flagstaff and install a new one was made before he became a devaswom board member. Since he was not present at those earlier meetings, he could not comment on them.
At the time when these decisions were supposedly made, Prayar Gopalakrishnan and Ajay Tharayil served as the devaswom board administrators. Raghavan pointed out that matters related to the vaji vahanam handover or flagstaff construction were never brought up in board meetings he attended.
Contradicting Previous Claims
This statement directly contradicts what Ajay Tharayil had previously claimed. Tharayil had said that the vaji vahanam was handed over to the tanthri according to tradition and with Raghavan's knowledge.
Majority Decisions Without Consultation
Raghavan responded to this by explaining why such contradictions might occur. "Many decisions were taken without my knowledge," he revealed. The reason for this, according to him, was that Congress representatives held a majority on the board at that time.
This majority allowed them to make decisions without necessarily consulting or informing all board members. Raghavan's clarification sheds light on the internal dynamics of the Travancore Devaswom Board during that period.
Political Implications
The controversy highlights the ongoing political tensions within the administration of temple affairs in Kerala. With different political parties represented on the board, disagreements about procedures and decision-making processes are not uncommon.
Raghavan's statement serves as a reminder that not all board members may be aware of or agree with every decision made by the majority. This particular issue about the vaji vahanam handover now has conflicting accounts from different political representatives involved in the matter.
