In Left citadel of Kannur, BJP’s prayers rest on temples RSS renovated

“The communist surge in villages in the last century contributed to the fall of scores of temples in north Kerala, particularly in Kannur,” said RSS leader Valsan Thillankeri. “In recent years, we have renovated many temples, converted abandoned kavus into temples, stepped in to bring life into family-run temples that were in bad shape.”

This has helped contribute to the BJP’s growth in Kannur. “First we groom a temple-oriented community, which then turns into a BJP vote bank. This is slowly reducing the influence of the CPM,” Thillankeri said. “We are looking at major political changes in the next five to ten years in this region.”

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The recent local body elections threw up an example of the change the Sangh Parivar is looking at. In Muzhakkunnu panchayat that used to be a CPM stronghold for four decades — there was a time CPM activists wouldn’t even allow the BJP to field candidates — the RSS recently renovated a ruined temple each in Pala and Pullanjiyodu villages. This time, the BJP won both villages.

“The victory has helped the BJP work with more freedom for the assembly elections, which it was earlier denied,” said local BJP worker K K Rameshan at Muzhakkunnu.

The Parivar has also been grooming a temple community in the hill town of Iritty and neighbouring villages. RSS-backed organisations built a new temple was constructed in the town over a decade and renovated three more at Keezhur, near Iritty, besides renovating temples Payam, Perinkiri and Pazhassi villages. The BJP went on to win five seats in Iritty and Keezhur regions in the last civic polls.

All of this has helped the RSS launch new branches for several social and charitable activities, all aimed at bringing the Hindu community closer to the Sangh Parivar.

“The BJP will increase its vote share in the region because of the initiative on temples,” a senior CPM leader admitted, requesting anonymity. “But,” he predicted, “they will not win any assembly seat here. We cannot prevent the people from turning religious, but our cadres have been asked to take control of the local temple administrative bodies. We will not allow the safronisation of temples.”
The CPM is worried enough to have launched its own temples in Kannur. At Mudakkozhi, a CPM-controlled village, it supported the construction of a Muthappan temple four years ago.
In Thalassery and Koothuparamba constituencies where the BJP is posing a challenge, RSS-backed committees have converted a few kavus into temples. In Vallangode and Rishikkara near Panoor, known for political violence, they have converted two more kavus. It has introduced daily pujas in a few more temples.
RSS sources said the changes have reduced the CPM’s resistance towards the BJP. “In Koothuparamba municipality, the BJP had a presence only in six divisions. But last week, the party had conducted house-to-house visits in all 24 divisions,” an RSS activist said. “This is the first time the BJP is campaigning so openly. In some CPM strongholds such as Kathiroor and Patyam, too, we will campaign openly.”