Thiruvananthapuram: It is widely expected the landmark Sabarimala verdict would influence the outcome of the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala. What is not certain is which political party or front would gain or lose from it as Keralites cast their ballot on April 23. It is learnt BJP will try to make Sabarimala a major focus as poll campaigning enters the last stretch in the coming weeks even though the Election Commission has warned against making the Sabarimala row a pitch to seek votes by parties and candidates.
Even though BJP's star campaigner Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not mention the word 'Sabarimala' at his Kozhikode event, he said ‘it is impossible to use Ayyapa’s name in Kerala’ in Mangaluru on Saturday. This is a tactical move by BJP to name Sabarimala without naming it.
Words like Ayyappa and Sabarimala will not be used, but voters’ attention will be diverted there. Trained squad workers have already visited houses seeking ‘a vote for Ayyappa’.
Chief Electoral Officer Teeka Ram Meena had lauded Modi for not using the word Sabarimala in his speech in Kerala. But BJP will not take it as a compliment.
"Meena will not be allowed to become a clerk at AKG Centre (CPM headquarters); we are ready to die for Ayyappa," BJP candidate Shobha Surendran said in Attingal, revealing the party’s strategy.
Modi invokes temple issue
Referring to his Kerala visit on Friday, Modi said in Mangaluru that under the Communist government no citizen can even take the name of Lord Ayyappa publicly.
"You will be put behind bars for taking the name of Sabarimala. The constituency I visited yesterday, the candidate there was put behind bars for 15 days. He was released on bail yesterday," Modi said.
Addressing a poll rally in Theni, Tamil Nadu, Modi said BJP stood with people on the Lord Ayyappa issue.
In Kerala, Congress, Communists and Muslim League are playing a "dangerous" game regarding Sabarimala temple. "They are using brute force to strike at the root of faith and aspiration. Till BJP is there, no one will be able to destroy our faith and culture," he said in another rally at Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu.
Playing safe with poll ads
BJP had spearheaded the agitation over the LDF government's decision to implement the Supreme Court's September 28 verdict allowing women of all age groups to offer prayers at the hill shrine of Lord Ayyappa at Sabarimala late last year.
BJP had withdrawn an earlier campaign slogan ‘Mandalam Ethayalum Mandalakaalam Marakkaruth’ to remind voters about Sabarimala and the LDF government’s police action in the hill shrine during its prime season known locally as 'Mandalakalam'.
But big hoardings with the same caption erected in the name of Sabarimala Karma Samithi can be seen everywhere. The Election Commission cannot take action since the billboards do not have words related to polls.
Stand of non-BJP parties
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan have decided to focus on Lok Sabha constituencies considered favourable for BJP. Their rival front -- the United Democratic Front -- believes it too can cash in on Sabarimala issue. The Congress-led front may claim the NDA government at the centre did nothing to stop young women’s entry into the Sabarimala temple after the Supreme Court judgment last September.
Meanwhile, the opinion polls suggest the UDF is set to corner most of the 20 Lok Sabha seats in Kerala.
