CPI indicators that Sabarimala gold theft scandal eclipsed LDF’s governance observe report at native physique ballot hustings

The Communist Social gathering of India (CPI) on Monday (December 15, 2025) signaled that the Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple gold theft scandal implicating Communist Social gathering of India-Marxist’s (CPI(M)) political appointees on the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) probably aided the Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Social gathering (BJP) in eclipsing the ruling Left Democratic Entrance (LDF)’s observe report as a pro-people authorities on the native physique ballot marketing campaign trial.

CPI chief P. Santosh Kumar, MP, famous that the Congress and the BJP used the Sabarimala theft case to solid suspicion concerning the authorities within the minds of the voters. “Notably, Congress and the BJP set their marketing campaign ditties assailing the federal government on the Sabarimala theft case to the tune of well-liked Ayyappa devotional track and succeeded in altering the arc of the political narrative to their respective benefit,” he added.

CPI State Secretary, Binoy Viswam, known as on his CPI(M) counterpart, MV Govindan, earlier than the State Secretariat conferences of the respective ruling entrance allies to grapple with the United Democratic Entrance (UDF)’s native physique election sweep and the BJP’s emergence as a successful political power within the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Company.

Talking to reporters outdoors the CPI(M) State headquarters on the AKG Heart in Thiruvananathapuram, Mr. Viswam doubted whether or not the uproar surrounding the Sabarimala theft scandal overshadowed the ruling entrance’s narrative concerning the State’s increasing social safety internet, improved public service supply and fast infrastructure improvement.

“It’s inaccurate to focus solely on Sabarimala. There are a number of different components that sowed confusion amongst voters concerning the LDF,” he stated.

Mr. Viswam stated the CPI mouthpiece, Janayugamhad expounded on the LDF’s setback in its editorial on Monday (December 15, 2025).

Notably, the editorial underlined that LDF failed in distancing itself democratically from leaders of social organizations championing schismatic non secular and caste identification politics, primarily by demonizing minorities.

The editorial didn’t identify any chief. Nonetheless, it appeared to obliquely criticize the federal government for not calling out SNDP Yogam normal secretary Vellapally Natesan’s contentious remarks, which drew intense criticism from Muslim social organizations. Furthermore, the federal government in accordance Mr. Natesan satisfaction of place on the World Ayyappa Sanghamam in Sabarimala in September.

The editorial stated the LDF seemed to be treading softly round casteist and communal forces, creating “suspicion” concerning the ruling entrance’s dedication to secularism amongst “some sections” of the individuals.

Furthermore, the editorial famous that welfare pension doles, the LDF’s central marketing campaign platform, weren’t the State’s charity and an inalienable proper of the beneficiaries. It additionally appeared to be a slanted assault on CPI(M) chief MM Mani’s now-retracted assertion blaming “ungrateful” welfare pension beneficiaries for the LDF’s failure.

In what appears to be a reference to the arrest of CPI(M) chief and former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president A. Padmakumar within the Sabarimala theft case, the editorial said that the LDF should face the political penalties for the wrongdoing of these entrusted with key tasks. The newspaper reminded readers that non secular locations of worship maintain a distinguished place in individuals’s minds.