Sabarimala women entry: Fresh claims say Padmakumar was deceived, kept away from Sannidhanam

Pathanamthitta: Claims have emerged that former Travancore Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar was deliberately kept away from Sannidhanam when women entered Sabarimala under police protection (Entry of women to Sabarimala). The claims were made by people associated with him.

Padmakumar's absence was allegedly orchestrated after he said during the agitation that no young women from his family would visit Sabarimala. On the same day, S. Sreejith, the then Inspector General (IG) in charge of security at Sabarimala, was also removed from Sannidhanam. He was directed to report urgently to the police headquarters.

The incident occurred on January 1, 2019, during the Makaravilakku pilgrimage. According to the claims, Padmakumar was travelling to Sannidhanam via the Swami Ayyappan Road that afternoon when a senior official in the ruling establishment telephoned him and asked him to reach Thiruvananthapuram urgently.

The call came after he had completed nearly half of the journey to Sannidhanam. He was instructed to meet an influential figure having influence in both the party and the ruling establishment after reaching Thiruvananthapuram.

Padmakumar ended his journey and returned to Thiruvananthapuram. He reached the city at around 1 am and went to the residence of the senior leader but was not allowed inside. Police personnel reportedly told him that a meeting was not possible at that time. Even when he called the person who had asked him to travel to Thiruvananthapuram, there was no response.

Police later informed him that he could meet the senior leader when he came out for his morning walk at around 5.30 am. Padmakumar returned to his home in Thiruvananthapuram. As he was preparing to leave again at around 5 am, he switched on the television and saw reports that Bindu Ammini and Kanakadurga had entered Sannidhanam and offered prayers.

Padmakumar then met the senior leader and is understood to have told him that he did not deserve such deception. He reportedly left without saying much. Later, he shared the details with a close associate in his hometown.

According to the information available, Padmakumar met the associate carrying his resignation letter as Devaswom Board president. However, the associate did not allow him to resign. In the years that followed, Padmakumar, who had reportedly become estranged from the ruling leadership, was gradually sidelined by the party as well.