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The war of words between the BJP and CPI(M) continued over the upcoming Global Ayyappa Sangamam, with leaders of both parties accusing each other of “playing politics”.
The Kerala government invited Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin (L) for the Global Ayyappa Sangamam event next month. (Image: PTI/File)
Global Ayyappa Sangaman: Lord Ayyappa of Sabarimala has once again become a flashpoint in Kerala’s political and religious discourse — this time over the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) government’s decision to invite Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin for the Global Ayyappa Sangamam Summit at Pampa in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district.
The much-anticipated event, organised by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) as part of its 75th anniversary celebrations, with the support of the state government, is scheduled to be held at Pampa in Kerala’s Pathanamthitta district on September 20.
A political slugfest broke out between the CPI-M and the BJP, with leaders of both parties accusing each other of engaging in “petty politics” over the event.
BJP Criticises Move
BJP State President and former Union Minister Rajeev Chandrasekhar criticised the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s decision and said that the Ayyappa bhakts of Kerala cannot be insulted any longer.
He said that after years of Vijayan disrespecting Sabarimala traditions, targeting devotees, and jailing many of them, and after MK Stalin and his son Udhayanidhi criticised Hindus and the Hindu faith, they are now trying to show devotion to Lord Ayyappa just before the elections.
In a post on X on Thursday, the BJP leader said that CM Vijayan has himself admitted that he is not a believer. “Should such a person be conducting a program like the Ayyappa Sangamam?” he said.
“If the government truly intended this as a program to honor Lord Ayyappa and the Sabarimala tradition, then Tamil Nadu CM Stalin should never have been invited in the first place. Would the government ever invite someone who insulted the Muslim faith to participate in a Muslim religious program? The Chief Minister must answer,” he added.
CM Pinarayi Vijayan himself has admitted that he is not a believer. Should such a person be conducting a program like the Ayyappa Sangamam? If the government truly intended this as a program to honor Lord Ayyappa and the Sabarimala tradition, then Tamil Nadu CM Stalin should… pic.twitter.com/8qz4JwVeos— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) August 28, 2025
He also pointed out two things while criticising the move— the Left government’s 2018 decision to let women of menstruating age enter the Sabarimala temple after a Supreme Court order, and Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin’s statement against Sanatana Dharma.
“This is pure politics. Since when did Stalin and his DMK, who openly called Sanatana Dharma a ‘disease,’ become devotees of Ayyappa? Our stand is clear: neither Stalin nor Pinarayi Vijayan, who brutally targeted Ayyappa devotees during the Sabarimala agitation, has any moral right to attend this program. Their presence would be an insult to every Hindu,” he said.
The Ayyappa Sangamam is nothing but a political gimmick to fool people just four months before the elections. A Devaswom Board that did nothing to improve basic infrastructure facilities or services for Ayyappa devotees in the past ten years has suddenly woken up to organize this… pic.twitter.com/h0OFPh992W— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@RajeevRC_X) August 28, 2025
Chandrasekhar also vowed that the party would “resist” the participation of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his Tamil Nadu counterpart M K Stalin in the programme.
Vijayan’s Response To The BJP
Meanwhile, the Kerala Chief Minister has said that “threats” by the BJP will not prevent the Global Ayyappa Sangamam from taking place as planned.
“It is not a government programme, so let it happen smoothly. Also, there is no need to come with threats regarding it. That will not prevent the event from happening. Rajeev Chandrasekhar does not know the situation in Kerala; that is probably why he spoke in a threatening manner,” the CPI-M veteran had said.
Chandrasekhar’s Response To Vijayan
Following the Chief Minister’s remarks, Chandrasekhar elaborated on his and the party’s stand. He said he had visited Sabarimala 18 times and had the knowledge to speak about the summit.
“Yesterday, our Chief Minister spoke about five points in that regard. Chief Minister said that there is no politics behind organising Global Ayyappa Sangamam. But if this is not politics, then what is it? If it is not politics, isn’t it the Devaswom Board’s Chairman who has to visit Chennai? Then why invite Stalin? When did he become a devotee of Lord Ayyappa? This is politics. People clearly see it as politics. This is just a political drama, just four months before the elections,” Chandrasekhar said.
Reiterating his stand, he said, “Stalin, who once called Hindus a virus, and the CPI(M) Chief Minister, who betrayed Ayyappa devotees, should not go there. I want to state very clearly here that the Chief Minister is not a believer, he is an atheist. But I am a Hindu believer. In our party, there are Hindus, Christians, and Muslims – and 99 per cent of them are believers.
“I speak about this as a devotee who has gone to Sabarimala. When an atheist Chief Minister from the CPI(M) speaks about it, who will the people believe? If this is truly part of worship, if it is truly a programme meant to respect the faith of Ayyappa devotees, then Stalin and the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) should not be invited.
MK Stalin Abstains From Attending The Event
Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin has expressed his inability to attend the programme due to prior commitments and has deputed two of his cabinet colleagues — Sekar Babu and Palanivel Thiagarajan.
“I am not in a position to attend the Travancore Devaswom Board’s platinum jubilee celebration due to pre-arranged events,” Tamil Nadu Chief Minister told his Kerala counterpart in a letter, according to an official release here on Monday night.
He, however, said he would be deputing two of his Ministers: P K Sekar Babu (Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department) and Palanivel Thiagarajan (Information Technology) to take part on his behalf, the release stated.
What’s The Row?
Kerala Devaswom Minister V N Vasavan had invited Stalin through a letter last week to attend the summit being held as part of the Travancore Devaswom Board’s platinum jubilee celebrations.
The invitation had triggered a political storm two days ago in the neighbouring state, with Chandrasekhar taking strong exception to Stalin’s presence at the spiritual gathering, and he demanded that the two Chief Ministers apologise to the Hindus.
Chandrasekhar warned that the BJP workers would hit the streets opposing their participation in the conclave if the two Chief Ministers did not apologise to the Hindus before attending.
The mega event is being organised in accordance with the rituals and traditions, with the participation of ministers from Karnataka and Telangana, Union Ministers from Kerala, the opposition leader, and everyone else.
Around 3,000 delegates from various countries are expected to participate in the event. This is the first time in history that an Ayyappa devotee gathering is being organised with the participation of so many delegates.
(With inputs from agencies)
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben…Read More
Shobhit Gupta is a sub-editor at News18.com and covers India and International news. He is interested in day to day political affairs in India and geopolitics. He earned his BA Journalism (Hons) degree from Ben… Read More
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