Kerala High Court's Ban on Political Meetings at Thekkinkadu Maidan Exposes Deep Divisions

The Kerala High Court's order prohibiting political meetings at Thekkinkadu Maidan in Thrissur has triggered a sharp divide between political parties and Hindu organisations, as revealed during an all-party meeting convened by the Cochin Devaswom Board on Saturday.

The Congress, CPI(M), CPI, Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala Congress factions, Forward Bloc, and several other political parties argued that the iconic ground should retain its status as a public space. They called for the verdict to be challenged in an appeal, warning that the order would have far-reaching implications for democratic gatherings and public life in Kerala.

In contrast, Hindu organisations including the Kshethra Samrakshana Samithi, Poorapremi Sangham, Hindu Aikya Vedi, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) welcomed the court's ruling. They asserted that the sanctity of temple rituals must take precedence and that the devaswom board's primary duty is to protect devotees' interests and preserve temple traditions.

Opening the meeting, Cochin Devaswom Board president K. Ravindran clarified that the gathering was solely to inform stakeholders about the High Court's order, not to decide on an appeal. Representatives of major political parties, religious groups, and socio-cultural organisations attended and presented their views on the future of Thekkinkadu Maidan.

The High Court recently prohibited political meetings at Thekkinkadu Maidan, the sprawling ground surrounding the historic Vadakkunnathan temple in central Thrissur. The verdict has sparked widespread debate, with concerns that it could restrict access to one of Kerala's most significant public spaces for democratic expression.