A controversy that began with police action against RSS workers over an Operation Sindoor floral decoration near the Muthupilakkad Sri Parthasarathy Temple in Sasthamkotta in September 2025 has now culminated in a dramatic political shift within the temple’s administration, with a devotees’ panel securing a clean sweep in the latest committee elections.
Case Over Floral Decoration
On 4 September 2025, the Sasthamkotta police registered a case against 27 Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) sympathisers and workers for laying a floral carpet (pookkalam) bearing the inscription “Operation Sindoor” and a saffron flag-like floral design on the main road leading to the Sri Parthasarathy Temple.
In Kerala’s Kollam district, police forced the removal of an Onam Pookalam simply because it carried the words “Operation Sindoor.”
This isn’t Pakistan. This is Kerala under Left rule, where even flowers with patriotic messages are treated as a threat.
All for appeasement of… pic.twitter.com/d7GPaSY41S
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 6, 2025
According to the police, the floral arrangement was made without the permission of the temple committee and in alleged violation of a court order that prohibited the erection of flags, decorations, or flex boards in and around the temple premises if such acts were likely to create unrest.
The First Information Report (FIR), lodged by Asokan C, an office-bearer of the temple committee, stated that the accused had also installed a flex board carrying an image of Chhatrapati Shivaji about 50 metres from the temple and that their actions were intended to provoke clashes between workers of different political parties.
The case was registered under Sections 223 (disobedience to an order duly promulgated by a public servant), 192 (provocation with intent to cause riot), and 3(5) (criminal acts done by several persons in furtherance of common intention) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
The police action drew sharp political reactions. The Bharatiya Janata Party condemned the FIR, describing it as an attack on an expression meant to honour Operation Sindoor. BJP leaders accused the Kerala police of overreach and demanded that the case be withdrawn, arguing that the floral decoration symbolised national pride and the valour of the armed forces.
Temple Committee Election
The episode became a major point of contention in the subsequent administrative committee election of the Muthupilakkad Sri Parthasarathy Temple, held recently in Sasthamkotta.
In the election, conducted by dividing the temple area into nine wards, the Bhaktajana Samithi secured all 27 of the 27 seats, defeating the CPI(M)–Congress combine that had previously controlled the temple administration.
275 RSS workers slapped with cases for an Operation Sindoor Rangoli at Parthasarathi Temple in kerala.
Same temple committee election: RSS panel wins 27/27, crushing a combined Congress–Communist front.
This isn’t coincidence. This is conviction.
Yes — Kerala is changing.” pic.twitter.com/mpcwZOjdA9— Rocket Scientist 🇮🇳 (@Rockumon) January 27, 2026
For several years, the temple had been administered by a Left–Congress alliance. Following the election results, representatives of Bhaktajana Samithi described the verdict as a response from devotees against political intervention in temple administration. They stated that the committee would prioritise temple-related matters, act in accordance with devotees’ interests over the next three years and focus on the development of the temple and the surrounding area.
They also alleged that dissatisfaction among devotees over previous administrative decisions, including opposition to religious and cultural expressions and court petitions against symbols such as saffron flags, had contributed to the electoral outcome.
Subscribe to our channels on Telegram, WhatsApp, and Instagram and get the best stories of the day delivered to you personally.
