A political controversy unfolded in Kerala on Sunday as the ruling CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) clashed over the recently concluded Global Ayyappa Sangamam. The event, organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) in partnership with the Kerala government, was projected by the ruling front as a major success, while the opposition dismissed it as a failure tainted by political motives.
Leaders of the CPI(M) maintained that the programme surpassed expectations, both in terms of participation and organisation. State secretary M. V. Govindan asserted that over 4,600 people took part, far exceeding the planned strength of 3,000. He accused sections of the media of distorting facts by circulating misleading visuals of empty halls, some of which he claimed were AI-generated. Devaswom Minister V. N. Vasavan also highlighted that 4,126 delegates attended, including 182 international participants, with 39 arriving from Sri Lanka, 2,125 from other Indian states, and 1,219 from Kerala itself.
He pointed out that the event was conducted under the guidelines of the Kerala High Court, without inconveniencing devotees, and that strict green protocol norms were followed. According to him, images of empty seats were taken before sessions began and deliberately circulated to discredit the event. He further noted that even Congress leaders from Karnataka who attended did not raise any complaints, thereby reinforcing the government’s claim that the Sangamam was an apolitical initiative designed to position Sabarimala as a global spiritual destination. An 18-member committee has already been constituted to review recommendations from the sessions and present a consolidated report.
The opposition, however, painted a completely different picture. Leader of the Opposition V. D. Satheesan alleged that the Sangamam was orchestrated as a political drama with elections in mind, claiming that genuine devotees had chosen to stay away. He dismissed the CPI(M)’s claims of AI-manipulated visuals as an insult to public intelligence, insisting that the widely circulated images of empty chairs reflected the reality of the event. Satheesan also criticised the reading of greetings from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath at the function, calling it a violation of Kerala’s secular ethos. He accused the CPI(M) of hypocrisy, recalling how the party had once condemned religious figures but was now using religious platforms to woo voters.
UDF MP N. K. Premachandran also joined the criticism, arguing that the event was nothing more than an attempt to polarise communities. He claimed that even during live telecasts, the halls appeared largely empty, with more speakers than audience members. He demanded greater transparency regarding the expenses incurred and any investment proposals tied to the event. According to him, the ruling CPI(M) was attempting to consolidate Hindu votes after losing significant minority support in the recent Lok Sabha elections. He further questioned Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s engagement with the Sabarimala tantri, calling it a betrayal of the party’s earlier stand during the 2018 controversy over women’s entry to the temple.
Thus, what was presented by the government as a spiritual and cultural milestone has now become a flashpoint in Kerala’s political battleground, with both fronts attempting to shape the narrative around turnout, intent, and the larger political implications of the Global Ayyappa Sangamam.
