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Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan skipped a review meeting on Sabarimala convened here on Wednesday after invitee Ministers from the Southern States chose to depute their officers.
The agenda of the meeting was to review the arrangements for the ensuing annual Mandala-Makaravilakku festival that will begin on November 16 attracting crores of pilgrims.
‘Pressing engagements’
In the Chief Minister’s absence, Devaswom (temple administration) Minister Kadakampally Surendran officiated the meeting and delivered the inaugural address. Later, speaking to newspersons, he said that the Ministers’ absence need not be linked with their stance on the Supreme Court verdict on Sabarimala.
Both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka government have informed him that the Ministers have to stay back due to political exigencies, including the prospect of elections in Karnataka, he said.
The model code of conduct is in force in poll-bound Telangana, Puducherry has cited an important cabinet meeting and Andhra Pradesh was holding a big political rally.
“It is thus wrong to deduce that the Ministers didn’t show up in protest, Surendran said, adding that the invitations were sent to them at a short notice.
Asked what had prevented Chief Minister Vijayan from attending the meeting, he said some ‘important developments in the office’ had demanded that he stayed back.
‘Worry over agenda’
However, sources said the invitee Ministers may have baulked at the agenda, reportedly topped by the discussion over SC verdict on Sabarimala.
The Ministers feared that they will be required to take a stance and go public with it say sources.
Meanwhile, Surendran said in his address that the Sabarimala shrine and the neighbourhood, including the base camp of Pamba, had suffered massive damage during the Kerala floods of August.
While the ‘Nadappanthal’ at Pamba was washed away, the health centre and the toilet facilities too were damaged.
Restoration work
The State government has entrusted Tata Projects with restoration work at Pamba and construction of additional facilities for pilgrims at Nilakkal base camp at an estimated ₹25 crore.
The Minister also sought the cooperation of all States for implementing the SC order on the entry of women pilgrim of all ages into the temple.
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