CPM's Binoy Viswam Sparks Row Over Tirunavaya Kumbh Mela, BJP Hits Back

Senior Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader Binoy Viswam on [date] voiced his opposition to the Tirunavaya Kumbh Mela, a prominent religious festival held in Tirunavaya, Kerala. Viswam's remarks drew immediate condemnation from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which accused him of disrespecting Hindu traditions and polarizing the electorate.

The Tirunavaya Kumbh Mela, celebrated on the banks of the Bharathapuzha river, is a significant event attracting thousands of devotees. Viswam, a former MP and Rajya Sabha member, argued that the festival's organization violated COVID-19 protocols and promoted superstition. The BJP, however, countered that his stance was politically motivated, aiming to appease minority vote banks ahead of upcoming local elections. State BJP president K. Surendran demanded an apology, calling the remarks an insult to Kerala's cultural heritage.

The controversy underscores the deepening political divide in Kerala, where religious and cultural issues often intersect with electoral politics. While the CPI(M) has historically taken a secular line, the BJP's aggressive counter has reignited debates over religious freedom and political correctness. The incident is likely to resonate in the run-up to the 2026 assembly polls, with both parties using it to galvanize their support bases.