The Sabarimala temple gold theft scandal is now a key topic in Kerala's local elections. Congress and BJP have led protests, focusing on alleged misappropriation of gold from the temple. Two former Travancore Devaswom Board presidents, affiliated with ruling CPI(M), are under arrest. Despite the political buzz, ordinary voters show mixed feelings. In Pandalam Municipality, a major transit point to the temple, voter G. Sreejith said, "In Pandalam, the issue doesn’t hold currency beyond a point." Arrests have reduced momentum. A government employee from Ranni-Pazhavangadi believes the scandal may influence some voters, but the final impact is unclear. In Kottayam, Chandrasekharan Nair notes the political drive has weakened. "Even the BJP isn’t pushing this hard," he said. The UDF tries to keep it alive, but its effect may be "limited." Thrissur's campaign mainly focuses on local concerns. Radha Nair, a state worker, said, "Sabarimala is not just another temple. The theft creates betrayal and hurt among devotees and may affect polls." However, autorickshaw driver Sukumaran Pillai argues that "employment, law and order, and rising costs" will decide results more than Sabarimala. Artist Shibina Manoj from Kozhikode points out that local elections often depend on candidates’ familiarity, not broader issues. Yet, entrepreneur Geetha Vishwambharan believes at higher local levels, corruption linked to Sabarimala theft could sway votes. The scandal exploded politically after the 2018 Supreme Court verdict on women’s entry into Sabarimala temple. The issue helped Congress win the 2019 Lok Sabha polls but now sees less passion in local voters. With inputs from Hiran Unnikrishnan, Mini Muringatheri, Sarath Babu George, and Aabha Raveendran. Published - December 02, 2025 09:38 am IST