The NDA's Guruvayoor candidate B Gopalakrishnan, who had come under scrutiny for making communally toned remarks, has once again stirred controversy after hoardings of his campaign questioned the choice of muslim MLAs in the constituency.

The campaign hoarding listed the constituency's MLAs since 1977, along with the title "Dont you see?". The caption beside the list reads "50 years of disregard. This should change! And to change this... Advocate B Gopalakrishnan," placed next to the NDA's symbol.

Although the poster does not make explicit statements pointing out the religion of the candidates, it is alleged that the move is an attempt to leverage religious sentiments against the muslim candidates. This becomes particularly relevant given Gopalakrishnan's track record of making anti-muslim remarks.

Earlier, he had come under fire for saying that Guruvayur had not elected a Hindu MLA in the past 50 years. He also alleged that neither the left nor the right fronts field candidates from the Hindu community and questioned why an international pilgrimage centre like Guruvayur had not had a Hindu MLA.

Following this, a complaint was filed with the Election Commission, which forwarded it to the Guruvayur Temple Police and directed the District Collector to take action. The police then registered a case under Section 192 (Wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 125 (promoting enmity on grounds of religion) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.

However, Gopalakrishnan has continued his campaign by invoking the Guruvayur temple and making anti-Muslim remarks, in what is allegedly a strategy to polarise voters by appealing to Hindu sentiments.

Following the incident, he responded angrily to media queries. When questioned about campaigning along religious lines, he reacted angrily, asserting that he stands by his statements and would continue to repeat them.

On March 27, the Kerala High Court had ordered the Election Commission of India (ECI) to consider a representation filed against BJP leader B Gopalakrishnan over the incident, in a writ petition filed by the Kerala Students' Union (KSU) leader Gokul Guruvayoor.

Following the controversy over the hoardings, LDF candidate N K Akbar told the media that the move is the BJP's last resort, following criticism over the LPG shortage in the country. Meanwhile, the UDF candidate P M Sadiqali said that the BJP's objective was to sow the seeds for the upcoming elections. "But they won't succeed here or in Kerala," he added.