ALAPPUZHA: The NDA is divided over the TDB stand on the appointment of a non-Brahmin priest as keezhsanthi in the Chettikulangara temple. The BDJS protested against the BJP silence over the issue at a meeting of the NDA at Cherthala recently. It may be recalled that the TDB had stalled the transfer of Mr Sudhikumar, the non-Brahmin priest, to the Chettikulangara temple from Puthiyidom temple, Kayamkulam, following protest from the Sreedevi Vilasm Hindumatha Convention( a devotee outfit) headed by RSS men.
BDJS leaders V. Gopakumar and B. Suresh Babu, C.K. Janu, Praja Socialist Party leader K.K.Ponnappan, and JSS (Rajanbabu) leader R. Ponappan criticised BJP MLA O. Rajagopal’s reaction to the submission moved in the Assembly by Kayamkulam legislator U. Prathibha Hari on the non- Brahmin priest on August 23. Mr Rajagopal said he didn’t know about the submission. Mr Suresh Babu said that the BJP should stand for the cause since the Sreedevi Vilasm Hindumatha Convention was backed by the RSS. “We protested against the stand of Rajagopal, who was elected with our votes too. The BJP state committee has assured us that an explanation would be sought in this regard,” he said.
The allies resented BJP president Kummanam Rajasekharan’s silence on the issue at the press conference. He only responded when journalists asked him about it repeatedly. Mr K. Soman, district BJP president, admitted that they had connection with the convention, a forum of 12 karas in and around the temple. The BJP or RSS does not have any role in its decision. The BJP wants that priests should be appointed on the basis of qualification and not caste, he said.
