INDI Alliance consisting of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPM-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) has been ousted from the Sasthamkotta (Kollam district) Muthupilakkad Parthasarathi temple committee by Bhakthajana Samiti, a Sangh-inspired panel, in a tight election held on January 26. The development follows a series of events that had triggered widespread public debate and mobilisation in the area.
S. Manu, a local native, told the media that the Operation Sindoor controversy created division among the people in Muthupilakkad; as a result, even communist families turned sympathisers of the RSS and Sangh-inspired organisations.
Against this backdrop, the panel called Bhakthajana Samiti won 27 out of 27 seats of the temple committee, which was earlier controlled by the INDIA Alliance.
The roots of the controversy trace back to September 25, when, in connection with the Onam celebrations, locals created an Onam Pookkalam (floral rangoli) featuring the caption “Operation Sindoor” and also showing a saffron flag.
Considering this act as objectionable, INDI Alliance partners complained to the police. Subsequently, a police team came to the site and objected to the title “Operation Sindoor” as well as the saffron flag, registering a case against 27 workers, including an army soldier. The incident attracted national attention.
Due to these developments, strong opposition emerged against what was perceived as a Congress–CPM attack on Hindu and nationalist symbols and ideologies.
A few months back, the temple officials of Muthupilakkad Sree Parthasarathy temple in Kollam, #Kerala did not allow a floral display with "#OperationSindoor " written on it…
Yesterday in the elections for new office bearers of the temple, the combined panel of CPM+CPI+RSP+Cong… https://t.co/aZ0laBGVYx— Colonel S Dinny (Retd) (@sdinny14) January 27, 2026
The BJP was the only political party that publicly condemned the INDI Alliance moves and launched protests against attempts to portray patriots as communalists.
Union Minister Suresh Gopi visited the temple and declared his support for the agitation.
In the temple committee elections that followed, CPM, CPI, Congress and RSP formed an alliance called Seva Samiti and contested against Bhakthajana Samiti as a panel.
On the lines of Assembly or Parliamentary elections, the 27 seats were shared among the parties—CPM 12, CPI 5, Congress 9 and RSP 1—with respective party committees declaring their candidates.
This political mobilisation prompted devotees to question why political outfits should interfere in temple committee elections.
Consequently, 27 devotees with Hindu and nationalist fervour entered the fray as a single panel of 27 candidates.
When vote counting was completed, the INDI Alliance candidates, including sitting members, were comprehensively defeated.
The winners secured margins ranging from 400 to 600 votes. Out of 3,730 eligible voters, the poll recorded a turnout of 70 per cent.
Elected Samiti Chairman K. R. G. Pillai stated that the erstwhile committee’s anti-temple traditional activities had generated strong public sentiment against them. He alleged that the former committee permitted entry into the sanctum sanctorum while pooja was in progress. Two years ago, he said, they allowed a beef and beer party in the temple dining hall.
Pillai further claimed that despite the temple earlier having Rs 50 lakhs in hand, it is now burdened with debts, with liabilities exceeding Rs 20 lakhs. He alleged that money was looted in the name of constructing a gopuram, and that corruption occurred in the felling of trees within the temple premises as well as in the sale of gold offered by devotees. He said his team’s primary objective is to protect the temple from falling into a debt trap.
The election result is being viewed as a humiliating setback for the INDI Alliance partners, who are accused of using the temple committee for political gains and of undermining temple traditions.
The verdict is also being interpreted as a warning to both the LDF and the UDF against what are described as sinister attempts to erode temple traditions, and as a message to those who express sympathy with Pakistan while opposing Operation Sindoor.
