We have not shifted from our stand: TDB commissioner

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Travancore devaswom board (TDB) commissioner N Vasu made it clear that the board has not made any shift in its stand in the women entry issue in Sabarimala. "The decision taken by the board in November was that it accepted the Supreme Court verdict allowing entry of women of all ages to the Sabarimala temple. We haven't shifted from this stand," said N Vasu who came back on Thursday after the hearing at the apex court.

Earlier in the day, TDB president A Padmakumar said he was unaware why the counsel of TDB didn't argue for the petition it had filed seeking more time to implement the SC order. "The TDB had taken the decision to go with a petition seeking time to implement the verdict. Hence, I am not sure whether there was any change in the stand by our counsel," said Padmakumar.

Vasu said the Supreme Court only considered the review petition on Wednesday and the court had sought the opinion of the board on this. "We had informed SC our stand, which was taken in November. It was to accept the verdict," Vasu clarified.

He said the question of the petition seeking time to implement the verdict did not turn up since the court did not consider it. "If the board wants to go ahead with the petition seeking time, we can approach the court again. But on Wednesday only review petitions were considered by the SC," said the commissioner.

The TDB was criticized by stakeholders of Sabarimala temple and opposition parties for the change of stance in the SC. Though Padmakumar said he would seek an explanation from the commissioner on this, Vasu said he hadn't received any such communication.

Upon reaching here, Vasu held a discussion with CPM state secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan at AKG Centre. It is learnt that Balakrishnan also had a conversation with Padmakumar. Devaswom recruitment board chairman M Rajagopalan Nair also spoke to Vasu and Padmakumar.

There are reports that the TDB president is not being consulted by the commissioner and other TDB members as the CPM leadership is directly communicating with the commissioner. This has created speculation that Padmakumar is on his way out as TDB president.

However, after Balakrishnan's discussion with Padmakumar and Vasu, sources in CPM said that all misunderstandings were cleared and there was no rift in the board.