Sabarimala verdict: Travancore Devaswom Board chief’s stands irk CPM leadership

On two occasions, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had publicly rejected Padmakumar’s stands.

Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple. (File | EPS)

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the Sabarimala women entry issue getting worse with each passing day, the Travancore Devaswom Board is finding itself in a Catch-22 situation. On the one hand, it has failed to take the devotees into confidence and on the other it’s facing the displeasure of the CPM.

It is learnt the party has conveyed its displeasure to TDB president A Padmakumar following which he proposed to step down. But, the party did not accept this as it would be portrayed as a political interference in the board’s functioning.

On two occasions, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had publicly rejected Padmakumar’s stands. The first was when the board president revealed plans to file a review petition and the other when Padmakumar proposed to file a report in the apex court on the untoward incidents.

Senior leaders said Padmakumar’s deviations from the party stand have sullied the image of the party on the issue. “Some in the party attribute it to his being part of a devout family while others suspect political intentions,” they said.

While Padmakumar was unavailable for comments, sources in the TDB said the president was disinterested in taking important decisions ever since the chief minister criticised him.It is reliably learnt that the party is planning a monitoring system in the board to avoid further embarrassment.