Amid a storm of controversy over the gold-plating scandal on the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple, Pathanamthitta, residence to the hill shrine, is about to show right into a high-voltage political battlefield.

Expectedly, the Sabarimala subject has change into the overarching theme of this election season too, with each the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the Bharatiya Janata Party-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) already laying the groundwork for his or her campaigns on this platform. The Congress will kick off its marketing campaign with a public rally in Pathanamthitta city on October 9, inaugurated by Congress normal secretary Okay.C. Venugopal. The BJP, in the meantime, plans a protest occasion the next day, led by Kummanam Rajasekharan.

“The Congress has accomplished the structure of ward-level committees for the newly created wards put up delimitation, together with a protocol for candidate choice,” mentioned Satish Kochuparambil, president of the District Congress Committee.

He identified that last-minute hiccups in seat-sharing had impacted the social gathering’s efficiency within the earlier elections and mentioned that discussions on seat allocation have begun a lot earlier this time. “On the again of a grassroots revival plan, the UDF is on a comeback path in Pathanamthitta. Riding this momentum, now we have managed to recapture eight of the 11 seats the place byelections had been held over the previous 5 years,” he added.

The BJP, in the meantime, has accomplished its ward-level conferences and is engaged in a door-to-door marketing campaign till September 10. The social gathering additionally expects visits from a sequence of leaders, together with State president Rajeev Chandrasekhar, over the following few weeks. The NDA, which has a robust presence throughout the area, at the moment governs one municipality and three panchayats.

LDF on the again foot

“The Left Democratic Front (LDF) is already on the again foot, and the Sabarimala subject is predicted to tilt voter sentiment additional in the direction of the BJP. Our goal this time is to seize 25 panchayats, along with Thiruvalla municipality,” mentioned V.A. Sooraj, BJP district president.

Despite issues over current developments, the LDF stays hopeful of extending its profitable streak. Of the district’s 53 panchayats, the LDF at the moment guidelines 35, and of the 4 municipalities, it holds energy in Pathanamthitta and Adoor. The coalition believes that the success of the Life Mission scheme and different welfare initiatives will assist preserve its maintain.

“Special focus can be given to Pandalam, which was misplaced to the BJP final time and to Kulanada, the place the saffron social gathering has held energy for a protracted interval. The Thumpamon panchayat, a UDF stronghold since its formation, can even obtain particular consideration,” mentioned an LDF chief.

Published – October 06, 2025 07:41 pm IST

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