Ahead of the upcoming Assembly elections, the BJP in Kerala is preparing to use the alleged gold theft at Sabarimala as a significant campaign issue. As part of this strategy, the party has begun petition drives addressed to MLAs and launched a door-to-door signature campaign demanding that the case be handed over to the CBI for investigation.

Despite the push, the party has not yet started a full-fledged statewide agitation. Instead, it is focusing on sustained grassroots activities, believing the issue could influence voters in around 35 constituencies. The party plans to keep the controversy alive throughout the election campaign.

Party sources acknowledged that earlier attempts to turn the Sabarimala issue into electoral gains did not yield the expected results. According to a senior leader, the controversy ended up putting the ruling Left on the defensive rather than directly benefiting the BJP. “When the front-runner faces a setback, the second-placed player gains an advantage. That is what happened during the local body elections,” the leader said.

In recent months, the BJP has also revised its campaign slogan from “Developed Keralam,” used during the local body polls, to “Faith Protection, Developed and Safe Keralam,” giving greater emphasis to religious sentiments.

Currently, the party is conducting programmes such as “Sabarimala Deepam” across all 140 Assembly constituencies, which are expected to continue until March 10. Plans are also underway to organise statewide yathras led by state leaders beginning in early March, where the Sabarimala issue will feature prominently.

The party is also revisiting its earlier position on the women’s entry controversy linked to the shrine. BJP leaders have outlined three main demands: the state government should withdraw the earlier affidavit submitted to the Supreme Court on the issue and file a new one, cases registered against devotees during the protests should be withdrawn, and the gold theft case should be transferred to the CBI.

Meanwhile, BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar recently visited the bailed temple tantri Kandararu Rajeevaru at a private hospital. During the visit, he alleged that the arrest was intended to divert attention from ministers Kadakampally Surendran and V. N. Vasavan, claiming that they should instead face legal action.