Chief Electoral Officer of Kerala Teeka Ram on Saturday reiterated that political parties in the State will be violating the Model Code of Conduct by asking for votes in the name of god and religion. The CEO also lauded Prime Minister Narendra Modi who campaigned in Kozhikode on Friday and added that social impact of issues like Sabarimala can be discussed.
“The Prime Minister was here. There was no use of the word Sabarimala in his speech. This should be used as a model for these people (parties). He did not use the word. He just spoke about traditions and customs and these aspects can be discussed,” the CEO stated.
On Saturday, the Sabarimala Karma Samithi organised a nama japa protest outside the Kerala Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram in an attempt to remind people about the "incidents" that took place during the Mandala season.
Swami Chithananda Puri, who is one of the leaders of the Karma Samithi said that the election code of conduct is not applicable to the Sabarimala Karma Samithi and that they will definitely raise the Sabarimala issue ahead of the elections. Also present during the namajapa propest was KP Sasikala, the controversial state president of the Hindu Aikya Vedi - a right wing organisation.
According to police officials who were present outside the Kerala Secretariat, the protest began outside the main gate of the Secretariat around 11 am on Saturday and went on till about 12:30 pm.
“During the protest, the Karma Samiti had raised the issues of the mass arrests of people protesting against the entry of women of all ages into the Sabarimala temple as well as the recent arrest of the Kozhikode NDA candidate Prakash Babu,” the officers added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday evening addressed a gathering of 1.5 lakh party workers, who had turned up even from the neighbouring Malappuram and Vadakara constituencies to hear him speak at the Vijay Sankalp rally in Kozhikode beach.