At the Punarjani 3.0 programme, jointly organised by Hindu Seva Kendra and Kerala Adivasi Samrakshana Samiti, as many as 60 tribal families who had earlier converted to Christianity formally returned to Hindu Dharma.

The event was held amid the participation of community elders, organisers, and well-wishers, with organisers stating that the return was undertaken voluntarily and with dignity and self-respect. The families, belonging to various tribal communities, reaffirmed their cultural and spiritual roots through traditional rites conducted as part of the programme.

According to the organisers, Punarjani, meaning “rebirth” or “renewal”, is an initiative aimed at facilitating the reconnection of tribal communities with their ancestral faith, customs, and cultural practices. They emphasised that the programme focuses on restoring identity and continuity with indigenous traditions rather than coercion or inducement.

Similar programmes had been conducted earlier as part of ongoing outreach efforts among tribal communities in Kerala.

Ghar Vapsi returns…

At Punarjani 3.0, jointly organised by Hindu Seva Kendra and Kerala Adivasi Samrakshana Samiti, 60 converted Christian tribal families returned to their roots and embraced Hindu Dharma with dignity and self respect.

This is not a ritual.
This is a… pic.twitter.com/fsLC5IjK43

— Pratheesh Viswanath (@pratheesh_Hind) February 1, 2026

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A woman offering namaz while standing in the middle of a busy road in Kerala’s Palakkad district has triggered debate on social media over public order and religious practices.

According to short news posts shared by News Tamil 24×7’s video, a veiled woman was seen standing in the middle of the roadway and performing Islamic prayer, causing confusion and commotion among motorists passing through the stretch. The brief clip shows vehicles slowing down and moving around her as she continues praying. The location is said to be the busy IMA junction in Palakkad. It is reported in Malayalam news channels that the woman has been taken into police custody. It was later revealed that the woman prayed on the road in order to bring the dispute over family property to the attention of the people.

கேரள மாநிலம் பாலக்காட்டில் நடுரோட்டில் நின்று கொண்டு தொழுகையில் ஈடுபட்ட பெண்ணால் பரபரப்பு…!#Kerala #prayer #Trafficissue #Women #TamilNews #NewsTamil #NewsTamil24x7 pic.twitter.com/1G9JiLfESI

— News Tamil 24×7 (@NewsTamilTV24x7) January 28, 2026

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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.

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The post Booked For Pookkalam, Backed By Devotees: RSS-Linked Bhaktajana Samithi Sweeps Muthupilakkad Sri Parthasarathy Temple Poll appeared first on The Commune.

The Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kerala expelled a senior leader from its Kannur stronghold after he publicly alleged large-scale misappropriation of party funds, triggering an internal crisis for the party ahead of the Assembly elections.

The Kannur district committee of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Monday, 26 January 2026, expelled V Kunhikrishnan, a district committee member and a party functionary for over five decades, citing indiscipline and actions that allegedly brought disrepute to the party.

Kunhikrishnan had levelled allegations of financial misappropriation amounting to ₹46 lakh against T I Madhusoodanan, the CPI(M) legislator from Payyannur. The allegations related to funds raised for multiple purposes, including support for the family of slain party activist C V Dhanarajan, construction of the Payyannur area committee office, and election-related expenses. Dhanarajan, a CPI(M) worker, was hacked to death in 2016 in an incident the party attributes to BJP-RSS workers.

The controversy has caused significant embarrassment for the CPI(M), particularly as it emerged from Kannur, widely regarded as the party’s citadel in Kerala, and at a time when Assembly elections are approaching.

Announcing the disciplinary action, CPI(M) Kannur district secretary K K Ragesh said the party had already conducted an internal inquiry into the funds in question and concluded that no money had been lost. However, he acknowledged procedural lapses, including the temporary diversion of funds collected for specific purposes and the disappearance of some receipt books used during fund collection. He said appropriate action had been taken against the party office secretary responsible for maintaining accounts.

Ragesh declined to make the party’s financial accounts public, stating that such disclosure was against the party’s organisational line.

Kunhikrishnan, however, maintained that funds collected from various contributors were not properly accounted for and alleged that misappropriation had taken place through inflated land purchase prices and the inclusion of bogus expenses. He pointed out that Madhusoodanan was serving as the Payyannur area secretary of the party during the period when the alleged irregularities occurred.

He further stated that he had repeatedly raised the issue with the party leadership and submitted what he described as documentary evidence, but his complaints were ignored. He is now preparing a book that he claims will expose internal functioning and issues within the CPI(M). Despite instructions from the party leadership to refrain from publishing the book, Kunhikrishnan has refused to back down.

Signs of internal discontent surfaced in Kannur following his expulsion, with posters supporting Kunhikrishnan appearing in CPI(M) strongholds even as senior party leaders publicly criticised him. The situation escalated further after CPI(M) workers allegedly attacked Congress and BJP activists who staged protests against the party in the wake of the revelations. CPI(M) workers also held a protest in front of Kunhikrishnan’s residence.

Source: Deccan Herald

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The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Sunday, 25 January 2026, demanded that Sonia Gandhi clarify the purpose of her alleged meetings with Unnikrishnan Potti, the prime accused in the Sabarimala gold theft case, claiming the matter pointed to political patronage enjoyed by the accused under both Indian National Congress and Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI(M)) governments in Kerala.

Addressing a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar displayed a photograph purportedly showing Sonia Gandhi with Potti and questioned why the meeting took place when Gandhi was Congress president and Oommen Chandy was the Chief Minister of Kerala.

“Sonia Gandhi and the Congress should explain the agenda behind these meetings,” Chandrasekhar said, alleging that Potti could not have operated without the backing of powerful political forces. He also claimed that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had held a similar meeting with the accused, for which no clear explanation had been offered so far.

Referring to the alleged loss of 4.5 kg of gold from the Sabarimala Temple, Chandrasekhar said the issue had outraged not only Ayyappa devotees but people across Kerala. “Why would Sonia Gandhi, who is not a Sabarimala devotee, give an audience to a broker accused of looting gold from the temple?” he asked, alleging that Potti enjoyed political patronage first under the Congress-led government and later under the CPI(M)-led dispensation.

In a post on X, Chandrasekhar claimed that Sonia Gandhi had met Potti not just once but repeatedly during the period when the Congress was in power in Kerala, and said the party must explain the nature and purpose of those interactions. “If they have nothing to hide, Congress must answer,” he said, adding that the BJP and NDA would intensify protests until clarity was provided.

This question must be asked and needs an answer:

Why did Sonia Gandhi, who was then Congress president meet and engage with Unnikrishnan Potti, the broker who looted Sabarimala? Not just once, but repeatedly at a time when Congress was in govt in Kerala?

Congress must answer.… pic.twitter.com/Bn2B3k7ge5

— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@RajeevRC_X) January 25, 2026

Source: India Today

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The post “Why Did Sonia Gandhi Meet Him?”, Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar Questions Her Meetings With Sabarimala Gold Theft Case Accused appeared first on The Commune.

A statement by Jamaat-e-Islami leader Shaikh Muhammed Karakunnu defending the concept of an Islamic Republic has triggered a political controversy in Kerala, drawing criticism amid an ongoing debate over secularism and electoral alliances.

In a Facebook post titled “Would true believers reject Islamic Republic?”, published on 17 January 2026, Karakunnu stated that the Prophet Muhammad was the founder of the Islamic Republic and that its capital was Medina. He said the state was established without the shedding of blood and that the people of the land welcomed the Prophet and accepted him as their ruler, naming the city Madinatun Nabi (City of the Prophet). He described it as an ideal-based, humanitarian and pluralistic polity, claiming that Muslims constituted only about 15 per cent of the population at the time.

Karakunnu further stated that during the rule of Umarul Farook, whom he described as the ruler of that historically unparalleled republic, the Muslim population was less than four per cent. He urged critics of the concept of an Islamic Republic to study it carefully, adding that no true believer who loved the Prophet Muhammad could reject it.

The controversy has also revived debate over political alliances following the 2025 Nilambur Assembly by-poll, in which the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Welfare Party of India publicly announced its support for the Congress-led United Democratic Front candidate. Leaders of the Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee had stated that the UDF would accept “all support” to defeat the Left Democratic Front, a position that sparked criticism over the coalition’s secular credentials.

Critics alleged that the Indian National Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi, and V D Satheesan, was fully aware of Jamaat-e-Islami’s ideological positions but continued to engage with the organisation for electoral support.

It is noteworthy that VD Satheesan had once defended its engagement with Jamaat-e-Islami. VD Satheesan, the Leader of the Opposition in Kerala, had previously taken a firm stand in support of accepting Jamaat-backed political support. Satheesan had publicly stated that Jamaat-e-Islami no longer advocated the establishment of a theocratic state and had undergone a shift in its ideological position.

He had said, “They are not raising the demand for a theocratic state anymore. They have made significant changes to their stance. Their support is now purely political. That support is for the Congress; it is for the UDF.”

A Jamaat-e-Islami leader openly calls for an Islamic Republic. They reject Indian democracy. They reject our Constitution.

Yet in Keralam, @RahulGandhi’s Congress is partnering with Jamaat for votes, while lying about constitutional values.

Make no mistake.

Rahul,… pic.twitter.com/CbwR8bS0n1

— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@RajeevRC_X) January 21, 2026

Opponents further argued that mainstreaming Jamaat-e-Islami risked legitimising ideologies that could threaten Kerala’s social and cultural fabric. It is noteworthy that in Bangladesh, Jamaat-backed politics has undermined democratic institutions and has contributed to violence against minorities.

Source: Times of India

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The post Jamaat-e-Islami Leader In Kerala Calls For Islamic Republic, Congress Leader Says Jamaat’s Support Is Purely Political appeared first on The Commune.

Tension broke out during a temple festival at the Kannadiparamba Sree Muthappan temple in Mayyil, Kannur district, after members of the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) objected to the singing of a song associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS).

The incident occurred on the night of 19 January 2026 during a musical programme organised as part of the annual temple festival. While the singers were performing Parama Pavithramathamee Mannil Bharathambaye, a Malayalam patriotic song, a group of DYFI activists climbed onto the stage and demanded that the performance be stopped. The singers halted the song midway following the objections.

Soon after, RSS workers present at the venue intervened, leading to a scuffle between the two groups. Videos of the incident later circulated widely on social media, showing heated arguments at the venue as the singers appealed for calm.

DYFI activists alleged that the performance of the song was part of an “RSS-backed agenda” to politicise temple festivals. They also protested against the temple festival committee for allowing what they described as RSS songs to be performed during a religious event.

In a statement issued later, the DYFI Kannadiparamba East regional committee said that including RSS ganageethams in temple celebrations was aimed at advancing the organisation’s ideological agenda. The youth organisation urged the public to recognise what it termed attempts by communal forces to impose their ideology and warned of protests against similar moves in the future.

The song Parama Pavithramathamee Mannil Bharathambaye, which calls for reverence towards the nation, is widely recognised as an RSS ganageetham and is frequently sung at RSS events. However, it is also commonly performed at cultural programmes, concerts, and television shows without any explicit political context.

Following the disruption, the temple committee lodged a complaint with the police against the DYFI activists, alleging that they interfered with the conduct of the festival. Police said they were examining the complaint and reviewing video footage of the incident.

Source: Times of India

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With the Kerala Assembly elections approaching, the Bharatiya Janata Party has sharpened its focus on what it calls the systematic decline of the Hindu community in Kerala, accusing decades of Congress–Left rule of burying uncomfortable realities under the banner of “secularism.”

Leading the charge, BJP Kerala chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the condition of Hindus in the state over the last two decades must be openly discussed, insisting that facts, not ideology, should drive the conversation.

“What I wish to say today is this – The Congress party, which is trying to bring Jamaat into the mainstream politics of this land and the CPM, which has done politics alongside Jamaat until now, the people will not support them in this election and our request is that they should not support them.”

Chandrasekhar argued that while Kerala speaks endlessly about progress and inclusivity, the material and social condition of the Hindu majority has steadily worsened, even as political parties court Islamist groups like Jamaat-e-Islami for electoral gains.

“Over the last 20 years, I have the facts and figures with me. The condition of the majority Hindu community here, where it started and where it has gone – this needs to be discussed. When I say this, do not label me as communalist. I am stating facts.”

Making a direct economic claim, he said, “Hindus are today the poorest community in Kerala, facts are there for that. Which community has the lowest per capita land ownership – it is the Hindu community. So all this must be discussed.”

There must be an honest debate about the silent decline of the Hindu community in Kerala over the last two decades under Congress–CPM rule.

The facts are uncomfortable, but undeniable

Hindus are today the poorest community in Kerala
Hindus have the lowest per capita land… pic.twitter.com/XF9tKH9wG7

— Rajeev Chandrasekhar (@RajeevRC_X) January 18, 2026

The BJP leader accused the Indian National Congress and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) of masking these realities through what he termed “fake secularism,” while prioritising appeasement politics over equity and dignity for Hindus.

“This election is not only about their corruption, malgovernance, unemployment and inflation. It is also about their appeasement politics and resulting injustice, lack of dignity, inequity for all other Malayalees.”

Chandrasekhar said the BJP and the NDA would ensure that the question of Hindu decline in Kerala is no longer pushed under the carpet, asserting that development, investment, entrepreneurship, and opportunities for the next generation cannot coexist with the mainstreaming of extremist ideologies.

“The BJP/NDA will ensure this conversation is conducted and truth is told.”

By placing the Hindu question at the centre of the electoral narrative, the BJP has signalled that the Kerala election will not just be a referendum on governance, but also on what it calls the long-ignored socio-economic erosion of the state’s majority community.

Source: The Tribune

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The post “Hindus Are The Poorest Community In Kerala”, Says Kerala BJP Chief Rajeev Chandrasekhar appeared first on The Commune.

Just as the news of the gold theft in Sabarimala dies down, the temple is back in the news. This time, after a Devaswom Vigilance team arrested two temporary employees of the Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa Temple in connection with an alleged theft from the temple hundi, raising serious concerns over internal security and monitoring at one of Kerala’s most sacred shrines.

The accused have been identified as Sunil G Nair (51) and Gopakumar MG (51), both natives of Alappuzha district. They were taken into custody on Wednesday and later remanded to judicial custody.

The theft came to light during a routine vigilance inspection conducted on Tuesday, 13 January 2026, around 1 PM at the Sabarimala sannidhanam. Officials intercepted the two men as they were leaving after completing their duty at the hundi collection point. During the inspection, vigilance officers noticed suspicious behaviour and discovered that the accused were attempting to smuggle out currency notes by concealing them inside their mouths.

Following this, a detailed search was conducted, leading to the recovery of both Indian and foreign currency from their possession. According to Sannidhanam Sub-Inspector Vishnu V, the discovery of currency hidden in their mouths prompted a deeper probe, which revealed a far larger cache.

From Sunil G Nair, officials recovered a €20 note, a Canadian $5 note, and a UAE 50-dirham note during the initial interception. A subsequent search of his accommodation yielded a significant haul, including fifty ₹500 notes, multiple euro-denominated notes (€10, €20, and €50), Myanmar kyat notes, UAE 100-dirham notes, and Omani currency.

From Gopakumar MG, vigilance officials initially recovered Malaysian ringgit notes and a ₹500 note. A search of his bag later led to the seizure of 27 ₹500 notes, additional Indian currency in smaller denominations, Singapore $50 notes, Myanmar kyat notes, UAE dirham notes, a Malaysian ringgit note, and a gold-coloured locket weighing approximately two grams.

After completing the seizures and documentation, the Travancore Devaswom Vigilance officials handed over both accused and the recovered materials to the Sannidhanam police. The duo was produced before the court and remanded to judicial custody.

Source: OnManorama

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The post Sabarimala Hundi Looted From Within: Two Temple Staff Caught Smuggling Cash Hidden In Mouths appeared first on The Commune.

A stop memo issued by revenue authorities, of the CPI(M) led Pinarayi Vijayan government, halting riverbank construction linked to Kerala’s proposed Kumbh Mela-style ‘Maha Magha’ festival has triggered a sharp confrontation between organisers, the state administration, and political actors, with allegations of religious interference countered by claims of environmental violations by the authorities.

The order pertains to construction activity on the banks of the Bharathapuzha at Thirunavaya, where preparations are underway for the Maha Magha festival scheduled to be held from 18 January to 3 February 2026, near the historic Nava Mukunda Temple.

Festival Projected as ‘Kerala’s Kumbh Mela’

The Maha Magha festival is being promoted by organisers as Kerala’s version of the Kumbh Mela, aimed at reviving the ancient Maha Makham tradition that was historically held every 12 years during the reign of the Chera rulers. The event also draws symbolic links to the Mamankam tradition historically associated with Thirunavaya.

Leading the initiative, Swami Anandavanam Bharathi, said preparations for the event had commenced only after applications were submitted to the authorities. He claimed that construction of basic facilities, including a temporary bridge across the Bharathapuzha, was undertaken following informal clearance from officials.

Swami Anandavanam Bharathi further stated that authorities had earlier advised organisers to proceed, citing delays caused by the model code of conduct for local body elections.

Administration Cites Environmental Violations

The stop memo was issued by the Thirunavaya Village Office, directing organisers to halt construction work. The order cited alleged encroachment into the river and the use of heavy machinery to level portions of the riverbed.

Officials stated that such activities violate provisions of the Kerala River Banks and Regulation of Removal of Sand Act, 2001, which is intended to protect fragile river ecosystems, including the Bharathapuzha.

The Malappuram District Administration clarified that the stop memo does not prohibit the religious festival itself but applies only to unauthorised construction along the riverbank. Authorities stressed that environmental safeguards cannot be diluted, even for large-scale religious gatherings.

Organisers Cry Foul Over Timing

Organisers disputed the administration’s claims, alleging that the intervention came at the eleventh hour. They said construction had already reached an advanced stage and that repeated site inspections by officials earlier had raised no objections.

Swami Anandavanam Bharathi asserted that the Maha Magha mahotsavam would proceed as planned, stating that spiritual gatherings and religious rituals could not be halted through administrative orders.

The issue acquired a political dimension after senior BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan criticised the stop memo, calling it illegal and an infringement on religious freedom.

In a public statement, Rajasekharan alleged a conspiracy to sabotage what he described as the “Kumbh Mela of Kerala,” and said the festival was rooted in Kerala’s civilisational and religious history linked to Thirunavaya.

Source: Mathrubhumi

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The post Bharathapuzha Riverbank Construction Halted By CPI(M)-Led Kerala Govt Ahead Of Maha Magha Festival appeared first on The Commune.