At ground zero of Sabarimala agitation, BJP trying to loosen grip of Left, Cong

The traditionally bipolar election to the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, ground zero of the Sabarimala agitation, has gone triangular this time with the BJP hoping to win over voters who are opposed to implementation of the apex court order on entry of women in the hill shrine.

The BJP has fielded its state General Secretary K Surendran, who led the Sabarimala protests against changing temple traditions, while the ruling Left Democratic Front has nominated Veena George, its Aranmula MLA, to take on two-time Congress-led UDF MP Anto Antony.

The opposition to the Left government's decision to implement the September 28 Supreme Court order on allowing entry of women of all ages in the shrine of Lord Ayyappa here snowballed into a huge agitation that grabbed national headlines.

The protests, one of the most violent religious agitations in the state, was led by a section of devotees, right wing outfits and the BJP-RSS.

During the protests, Surendran was arrested and jailed on various charges, including attempt to murder and the use of criminal force to outrage the modesty of a woman.

The constituency consists of Assembly seats from Pathanamthitta and Kottayam district.

UDF's Antony, who won from the constituency in 2014 and 2009, is leaving no stone unturned to continue his winning streak. He won 41 per cent of votes in the 2014 election and had a winning margin of 56,191 votes.

"He is banking on his developmental credentials. He had done so much for the constituency," said a local leader who is assisting Antony in the campaign