Kerala: Vijayan Government Comes Under Fire For Thrissur Pooram Fiascos, CM Orders Transfer Of Police Officials Days Before Polls

The situation surrounding the Thrissur Pooram festival has escalated into a controversy just days before the Lok Sabha elections in Kerala on 26 April.

Police restrictions, aimed at crowd management, on 19 and 20 April have tarnished the festival's reputation, leading to criticism of the state government as per a report by The Indian Express.

To mitigate political fallout, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has directed the state police chief to transfer Thrissur Police Commissioner Ankit Ashok and Assistant Commissioner K Sudarsan with the Election Commission's approval.

The CM acknowledged the limitations of the government machinery during elections and ordered a probe into the incidents.

The festival faced disruptions, with some events abandoned midway on 19 April due to police restrictions. Additionally, the display of fireworks, a major attraction, was held in broad daylight on 20 April for the first time in the festival's history.

BJP candidate Suresh Gopi's involvement in resolving the fireworks issue has been highlighted by the BJP. This, along with the police restrictions, has led the Congress to allege collusion between the CPI(M) and BJP, using the festival for their own agendas.

The opposition has accused the government of communalising the festival and creating a situation conducive to BJP intervention. LDF Thrissur district committee convener K V Abdul Khadar has alleged a conspiracy, accusing BJP and RSS leaders of exploiting the situation for political gain.

The controversy has taken on a larger political dimension, with Sangh Parivar groups linking it to the 2018 entry of young women at the Sabarimala temple.

The government is concerned about a backlash in Thrissur, where the BJP has a strong presence. LDF candidate V S Sunil Kumar has also expressed disappointment over the turn of events.