Thiruvananthapuram – A routine ceremony at the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) turned tense on Saturday as K. Jayakumar began his term as the new president amid the Sabarimala gold heist probe.
Jayakumar, a seasoned civil servant now retired, replaced CPI‑M member P.S. Prasanth. He steps into the role while the Kerala High Court‑appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) digs deeper into the theft of gold believed to have taken place at the Sabarimala shrine.
Five suspects have already been arrested this week, and the most shocking arrest was that of N. Vasu. The former TDB commissioner and ex‑president was a long‑time ally of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Vasu’s detention has rattled the party’s top brass and left the CM’s office on alert, as the SIT moves forward without interference from the state government.
The new president faces an uphill battle. He must navigate pressure from CPI‑M‑backed unions that wield considerable power in TDB affairs. Observers say his handling of the SIT investigation and the broader political fallout around Sabarimala will be watched closely.
Meanwhile, the BJP has stepped up its demands. Union Minister for Tourism and noted Ayyappa devotee Suresh Gopi has called for a complete overhaul of the temple’s governance model, likening it to the Ayodhya temple administration. His remarks arrive at a time when Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah have publicly said the government will look at “necessary changes” to temple management.
For the CPI‑M, the timing could not be worse. The gold heist – which struck during Vijayan’s era of unchallenged dominance – now fuels the BJP’s push to reshape the shrine’s administration. As speculation grows about increased central oversight, Jayakumar’s first months as TDB president begin under a cloud of uncertainty and a storm of political pressure.
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