With the Kerala assembly elections only two weeks away, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan said that any decision on the Sabarimala issue will only be discussed after the Supreme Court delivers its final verdict.
The Sabarimala issue has become a huge issue of contention for the Communist Party of India (Marxist). The state government said that it will discuss the issue with Hindus, including those who have a difference in opinion, after the apex court verdict.
Vijayan, speaking to media persons in Malappuram during his campaign trail, said “Everything is going well. There is no need to discuss Sabarimala now. Now that the assembly election has come, some people have taken a keen interest in the shrine. Their purpose is clear. Just look at it as part of it. The issue was also raised during the local body elections”.
The Left had passionately supported the violation of the Sabarimala temple’s traditions, which has now become a big problem for them as Hindu voters are largely unhappy with the ruling party. Now the Communists are facing the real threat of losing power in Kerala to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Earlier, BJP leader R Balasahankar had claimed that there was a “deal between BJP and CPI(M) in some seats”. When asked about this allegation, Vijayan replied that Balashankar’s statement was an internal problems of his party and said that the Congress has become the ‘B Team’ of the BJP.
“We have heard the remark of BJP president that they will form a government if they can get 35 seats. Like in other states where Congress won, BJP is forming the government as Congress MLAs are joining BJP. Their intention is clear. Congress has become BJP’s B-Team across the country,” he said.
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