Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala State Government has reversed its previous stance on allowing women of all ages to enter the Sabarimala temple. The government will formally inform the Supreme Court on Saturday of its new position, which emphasises the protection of religious customs and traditions.

This policy shift comes as the Legislative Assembly elections approach. The decision follows a recent resolution passed by the Travancore Devaswom Board, which also advocated for the preservation of the temple's traditional practices.

While the issue was discussed in a Cabinet meeting on Tuesday, the final decision was deferred to the Left Democratic Front (LDF). Following consultations between CPM leadership and constituent parties, the government opted for this policy correction. This move is widely seen as an attempt to mitigate political fallout, after previous electoral setbacks and criticism from the BJP and other groups who utilized the government's earlier stance for political leverage. Both the government and the LDF now maintain that no decision should be taken against the interests of believers.

The stance then

"Can any group decide that someone shouldn't go to a temple? In a country governed by the rule of law, the government is obligated to implement a Supreme Court decision." — Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan

The stance today

"No change is intended regarding the stance on women's entry. However, considering the current circumstances and legal aspects, the party state secretariat has decided that the government should take appropriate action." — CPM state secretary M V Govindan.