THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The ruling government and front are reeling after the Sabarimala gold foil scam case took a dramatic turn, with the former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president being named as an accused in the First Information Report (FIR). This development has completely undermined the initial defence of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPM) and the government, which had consistently maintained that the lapse was solely at the official level.
The crisis deepened when the High Court-appointed Special Investigation Team (SIT) registered the FIR based on the Devaswom Vigilance report. The list of accused now includes former TDB President A. Padmakumar, contradicting the narrative that sought to shift the blame entirely onto lower-level officials. This new twist provides significant ammunition to the Opposition, particularly the Congress, which has been vigorously protesting the alleged corruption.
Initially, the narrative, even in the media, suggested a conspiracy among officials during that period, making it relatively easy for the CPM and the government to counter the Opposition’s attacks, including those raised in the Assembly. However, the official Devaswom Vigilance report and the subsequent High Court-directed FIR have turned the tables. Now, major constituents of the Left Democratic Front (LDF), including the CPM and CPI, are facing a significant political predicament.
While the government, the minister, and the CPM leadership have repeatedly promised strict action against those responsible, the need for immediate, decisive steps has become critical, especially with elections approaching. The LDF is now compelled to contain the scandal quickly, likely through strong organizational action, to prevent it from becoming a major Opposition election tool. The internal consensus is that to counter the Opposition’s intensified campaign, action against the accused is inevitable.
The Devaswom Vigilance’s finding—that the gold foil could not have been removed without the board’s knowledge—is central to the CPM’s current dilemma. It is widely expected that the party will move quickly to take organizational action against Padmakumar to save face.
Padmakumar, who has been a source of party discomfort since the last state conference, was appointed TDB President in November 2017 while serving as a CPM District Secretariat member. The period of the alleged removal of the gold foil—handed over to Unnikrishnan Potti—falls under his tenure. While Padmakumar claims he only ordered the gold plating and not the removal, he remains under a cloud of suspicion.
The CPM recognizes that defending Padmakumar is unsustainable, given his prior controversial tenure during the Sabarimala women’s entry issue. His inclusion in this scam’s FIR will likely amplify attacks on the party, making swift organizational action necessary to mitigate the political damage before the upcoming polls. The party is considering a carefully planned move, consulting Padmakumar, to ensure the action doesn’t backfire politically in the district.
