NEW DELHI: With no resolution of the Sabarimala impasse in sight as yet, Kerala is expected to see another round of political tensions as the government prepares for the Mandala festival in Sabarimala beginning November 17. 

While the LDF government remained cautious in its reaction to the apex court’s ruling on Sabarimala and said it will seek legal opinion on the “ambiguity” in the apex court’s decision to maintain status quo, BJP and Congress seized the opportunity to attack the Left-ruled government and said it must ensure the ensuing festival season remains peaceful and that the devotees are not disturbed. 

Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala advised the ruling dispensation to “not create issues” by attempting to provide security to women who attempt to forcibly enter the shrine against the prevailing tradition.  BJP MP and junior minister for external affairs, V Muraleedharan, attacked the Left government for saying it would seek legal advice on the Sabarimala judgment. “ This is only an attempt by the Left to make troublemakers infiltrate Sabarimala,” he said on Twitter. 

Congress general secretary and former MP KC Venugopal advised the Left government to exercise restraint. “ Respecting the SC’s decision, I would request the (state government) to show restraint in the matter till the seven-judge bench gives its verdict.  The government must ensure a peaceful pilgrimage season,” he said on Twitter. 

The Sabarimala shrine reopens for devotees on November 17 for the Mandala festival, which leaves the ruling LDF government with little time to settle on a strategy to handle the issue.  While Left sources acknowledged that CPM’s obdurate stand on Sabarimala have impacted its electoral prospects — it was reduced to one out of 20 seats in Lok Sabha in the 2019 polls — party insiders accepted they find themselves cornered, leaving the government with little choice but to implement the Supreme Court’s orders to facilitate safe entry for all devotees. 

With a new festival season around the corner, while Congress and BJP, are presented with a renewed opportunity to capitalise on popular sentiment, the Left finds itself struggling to strike a balance between mass sentiment and administrative propriety.