Is Bindhu Ammini, the woman who entered Sabarimala, contesting Kerala local body elections?
A viral fake poster has falsely claimed that activist Bindhu Ammini — one of the first two women to enter Sabarimala after the 2018 Supreme Court verdict — is contesting as a Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidate in the upcoming local body elections in Kerala. The CPM, which leads the LDF, has lodged a formal complaint, calling it a deliberate attempt to mislead voters.
Why has the poster caused confusion?
The fake poster circulated online projected Ammini as the official LDF candidate from Ward 20 of the Ranni panchayat. It described her as the “Sabarimala struggle heroine” and used her image.
According to the CPM, the poster’s design and timing were intended to create public confusion. The party’s Pathanamthitta district secretary, Raju Abraham, submitted a formal complaint to the District Collector seeking action against those behind the fabrication.
What has Bindhu Ammini said?
Reacting after the poster went viral, Ammini dismissed the claim and ridiculed its creators. Her message, translated into English, reads:
“I am not asking why you made and circulated such a fake poster. There is no substance to this story anyway. This photo is six years old. You could have at least crafted a better story, maybe put me in a district panchayat for minimum effect. ”
She stressed that the image used in the poster was outdated and mocked the attempt to falsely link her to the elections.
Why is Bindhu Ammini’s name significant?
Ammini became a nationally recognised figure in 2018 when she and another woman entered the Sabarimala temple after the Supreme Court ruled that barring women aged 10 to 50 was unconstitutional.
The verdict triggered intense protests from devotees who considered the ruling an intrusion into their faith. The Kerala government faced violent demonstrations while attempting to enforce the judgment and ensure women’s safe entry.
In 2019, the Supreme Court referred the matter to a larger bench for review.