Shadow of Sabarimala looms large as Pandalam prepares for another poll battle

Since October 1, 2018 every major political development in Pandalam, a municipality in Pathanamthitta district, has drawn a rather disproportionate national attention. It was on that very date that the streets of this otherwise quiet township witnessed the first-ever public protest against the Supreme Court verdict permitting the entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple.

Though Pandalam is home to the palace linked to Lord Ayyappa’s legacy, it was these prayer marches that transformed faith into political firepower. And it was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which could successfully seize on this momentum. Riding the emotional wave triggered by the protests, it stormed to power in the last local body polls, winning 18 of the 33 seats in the municipality. The Left Democratic Front (LDF), which had ruled the previous term, got nine seats, while the United Democratic Front (UDF) limped in with five.

As Pandalam gears up for another election, Lord Ayyappa still remains the overarching theme shaping the course of local politics here. In recent months, the town has hosted at least two major protest events on Sabarimala, first one by the Sangh Parivar against the Global Ayyappa Sangamam and another by the UDF over the alleged Sabarimala gold theft case.

The BJP, seeking a second straight term, exudes confidence. Determined to widen its successful strategy of combining Hindu and Christian voters and stamp Pandalam as a ‘saffron fort,’ the party has already completed groundwork. “Door-to-door visits have been completed and ward-level meetings are over. Senior leader P.K. Krishnadas convened a meeting of BJP councillors and grassroots level functionaries on Monday to review the progress of election work,” says V.A. Sooraj, president of the BJP Pathanamthitta district unit.

The LDF, however, is gearing up for a fight back. Riding on the BJP-led council’s administrative lapses , including its failure to pass the 2021 Budget, which nearly led to the council’s dissolution, the LDF plans to corner the BJP over its governance record. An infighting within the ruling front too will find a focus in its campaign.

Communist Party of India (Marxist) district secretary Raju Abraham says discussions regarding candidate selection for the wards will begin within two days. “Last time, we made a few missteps in candidate selection in certain wards, which had an impact on our overall performance,” he says.

As to the impact of the Sabarimala issue, he says voters will be convinced by the LDF government’s efforts to bring those involved in the Sabarimala gold plate scandal to justice.

Meanwhile, the UDF is also attempting a spirited comeback attempt, riding on the Sabarimala sentiment. Its “faith protection marches” culminated in a grand show of strength in Pandalam. Yet, the Congress-led coalition still faces headwinds. Once strong here, it has not ruled the municipality since its formation in 2015, losing ground after the 2018 protests.

The latest jolt came when long-time councillor K.R. Ravi crossed over to the BJP, with LDF-backed Independent Radhakrishnan Unnithan joining him. “We’re making every effort to stage a comeback. To achieve that, it’s crucial to win over the neutral votes that went to the BJP last time. The groundwork has begun, but it will take some time for the results to show,” says a senior Congress leader.