As the Kalpathy Chariot Festival began with a ceremonial flag hoisting on Thursday at 11:30 a.m., political activity mingled with religious fervor. All three candidates in the upcoming Palakkad by-election Rahul Mamkootathil (Congress), C Krishnakumar (BJP), and P Sarin (CPM)  paused their campaigns to join the thousands of devotees gathering on the agraharam streets to witness the festival's opening rituals. Their presence underscored the significance of the event, which combined the chanting of Vedic hymns, traditional percussion rhythms, and the collective prayers of the community, highlighting the cultural and political dimensions at play.

Kalpathy temple, central to the festival, is believed to have been established in the 14th century by Tamil Brahmins who settled in Palakkad. The temple’s distinctive Tamil worship style continues to this day, and Palakkad’s sizable Tamil-origin population remains deeply connected to their cultural heritage. This demographic has drawn the attention of political parties, especially the BJP, which has expanded its support among the Tamil Brahmin community. In Palakkad constituency alone, there are 10 agraharams (Tamil Brahmin neighborhoods), including the Kalpathy Agraharam. An estimated 22,000 Tamil Brahmins live in the constituency, making them an influential group.

Given that approximately 75% of voters in the constituency are Hindu, the Chariot Festival is not just a cultural but also a religiously significant event, amplifying its political importance. Politicians see the festival as an opportunity to engage with voters in a deeply rooted community gathering. Although political parties initially pushed to reschedule the election date, they soon realized the potential impact of shifting the date on voter turnout. Many young residents from the agraharams, who migrated to cities like Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi for work, had planned trips back to Palakkad specifically for the festival and may now miss the chance to vote due to the date change. 

In Thursday's flag-raising ceremony, officiated by Thantri Viswanatha Sivam and head priest Prabhudeva Senapathy, various dignitaries, including Archaeology Minister Kadannappally Ramachandran and BJP state president K Surendran, also made their presence felt. Festival flags were raised simultaneously at Kalpathy Lakshmi Narayana Perumal Temple, New Kalpathy Manthakkara Maha Ganapathy Temple, and Chathapuram Prasanna Maha Ganapathy Temple. The celebrations will reach their peak on November 15, when three chariots from Viswanatha Temple and others will converge for the grand Deva Radha Sangamam.