• Source:JND

Kerala Assembly Elections: As Keralam enters into polls on April 9 single phase, for the first time in Kerala’s Assembly elections, Hindutva has become the focal point of political debate. In a bid to unite Hindu votes, CPM, Congress, and BJP are all raising issues related to Hindutva.

According to Jagran.com, the CPM’s shift in stance on the entry of menstruating women into the Sabarimala temple is a result of the changing political landscape in Kerala.

Vellappally Natesan, the leader of Kerala’s largest Edava community’s social organization, Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP), has openly called for the unity of Hindus in Kerala.

For the past five decades, Kerala has been ruled by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) led by CPM and the United Democratic Front (UDF) led by Congress.

Both opposition alliances, the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), have long been vocal critics of BJP's Hindutva politics. However, with BJP's growing influence and the threat of Hindu votes slipping away, CPM has been pushed to embrace the Hindu card.

In 2018, CPM supported the Supreme Court’s verdict allowing menstruating women to enter the Sabarimala temple. But now, the party has made a U-turn, backing the old tradition of the Travancore Devaswom Board that bans the entry of such women into the temple.

Despite supporting women’s entry into Sabarimala in 2018, the LDF was able to secure a victory for the second time in a row in 2021. However, the situation has drastically changed this time. Both BJP and Congress have tried to weaken CPM’s efforts to appeal to Hindus, using issues like the theft of gold from the Sabarimala temple as leverage.

In fact, on September 20 last year, during the Global Ayyappa Sangham, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan hinted at the CPM’s change in position. Sabarimala is associated with Lord Ayyappa, and this event gathered Ayyappa devotees from across the world.

After a disappointing result in the local body elections last December, CPM has openly embraced Hindutva card. Senior CPM leader and state minister Saji Cherian accused Muslims of voting for the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) due to religious reasons.

ALSO READ: India Rejects Reports Claiming Iran Sought 3 Seized Tankers For Safe Passage Through Strait Of Hormuz

According to CPM leader Cherian, Hindus are voting for BJP, while Muslims are supporting IUML, and secular CPM is being ignored. IUML is a key constituent of the UDF, catering to the 24% Muslim population in Kerala. The shifting of Hindu votes has disrupted CPM’s 46-year-long dominance, with BJP successfully electing its first-ever mayor in the state capital, Thiruvananthapuram.

What Is BJP's Victory Plan?

BJP’s main goal is to secure a foothold in Kerala’s 55-60 per cent Hindu population. In an effort to win over the Edava community, BJP honored Natesan with the Padma Bhushan.

On Makar Sankranti, BJP attempted a Hindu awakening by lighting lamps at 10,000 locations in support of Sabarimala, which is being seen as a major threat to CPM’s Hindu vote bank.

ALSO READ: 'Which Side Are You On?' Iran's Larijani Invokes Prophet, Seeks Clarity From Muslim Nations

While Congress, due to its alliance with IUML, has refrained from openly supporting Hindutva, the party is focused on preserving its 15 per cent Nair vote base, a key demographic in Kerala politics.


Also In News