Sabarimala temple to open on October 17
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Pathanamthitta (PTI): The Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple, situated in a dense forest in this district, will open for the monthly poojas on October 17, the Travancore Devaswom Board said on Wednesday.
The ceremony will take place at 4 pm on Friday, when chief priest Arun Kumar Namboothiri opens the temple doors and lights the ceremonial lamp in the presence of head priest Kandararu Mahesh Mohanaru, the board said in a statement.
The temple will open at 5 am for darshan on October 18, the first day of the Malayalam month of Thulam, it said.
The draw to select the melshanthies (chief priests) for the next year for the Sabarimala and Malikappuram temples will also be held that morning at the Sannidhanam (temple complex).
President Droupadi Murmu is scheduled to visit the hill shrine for darshan on October 22, the concluding day of the monthly poojas, it said.
The TDB has already begun preparations to welcome President Murmu, and in view of her visit, restrictions will be in place for devotees on October 22, the statement said.
The Sree Chithira Attathirunal festival will be observed at the Sannidhanam on October 21, it added.
Sabarimala is opening for monthly poojas when a political row is raging in connection with the alleged irregularities in gold-plating in the temple.
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Siddaramaiah, I will abide by Cong high command decision on leadership isssue, says Shivakumar
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday said both he and Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will abide by any decision takeb by the Congress high command on the leadership issue in the state.
Speaking to reporters after returning from Delhi, the Congress state president said, he has full faith in the party leadership and that it would take an approapriate decision at the appropriate time.
The remarks comes amid speculations within the party and political circles about a possible leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, when the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in the Karnataka are announced.
"I will not speak about political issues before the media. I have already said that when the time comes you will get to know. So I will not tell you," Shivakumar said in response to a question on discussions with the Congress high command during his Delhi visit over the last couple of days.
He asserted that there are no issues within the party, and whatever has been already decided will take place accordingly.
Responding to a question on senior Minister Satish Jarkiholi's reported statement about internal differences, the Deputy CM said, "nothing like that, they (high command) will do what they have to do at the appropriate time."
"There are no issues, we have faith in our party, they will do what they have to," he added.
Asked about the issue of leadership change as the government is about to complete three years in office, Shivakumar said, "... I have never discussed this issue. The CM and I have both said that we will accept whatever and whenever the high command decides, and we will abide by it."
He declined to comment when asked whether any "good news" can be expected by his birthday on May 15.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025. The speculation has been fuelled by the reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
Responding to a question on the BJP's criticism against the Congress government over its decision on internal reservation for Scheduled Castes, alleging injustice to several communities and questioning its intent behind the revised quota formula, Shivakumar said the BJP could not do anything on internal reservation while in power, but the Congress has kept its promise.
"We have found a solution and tried to do justice to all sections among SCs. We have fulfilled the promise made and every one should go together," he said.
Shivakumar warned his party workers against erecting flex banners for his birthday on May 15.
"For May 15, I want to tell everyone that no one should put up flex banners or advertisements for my birthday. If flex are installed I will ensure that cases are registered by authorities against those responsible, whether they are party workers or followers....no one should put such things on roads, this is my personal request," he said, adding that he has asked commissioners of the city corporations to register cases and impose heavy fines.
