Thiruvananthapuram sources stated that Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, who has won from the Thiruvananthapuram Lok Sabha Constituency in two consecutive elections, during 2009 and in 2014, is looking for a third victory. As the 2019 elections approach, the constituency is all set to witness a triangular contest between Shashi Tharoor, NDA's Kummanam Rajasekharan and LDF's C Divakaran, all major names in their respective parties.
When asked about Sabarimala issue, he said believers have a legitimate reason to be aggrieved not just because of the Supreme Court decision itself (which is under review) but also because of the manner in which both the BJP and the Left have misled the people and have desecrated a sacred place of worship by converting it into a staging ground for unseemly political theater. He feels Sabarimala issue is a ‘golden opportunity’ to polarize the community for electoral benefit. Apparently a fever pitch of emotion on the streets and repeated television images of protesting believers is far more useful to them than actually solving the problem.
He added "The concerns of the people of the state particularly that of the faithful, have consequently been sandwiched in between the cynical politics of both these two parties and the Congress is committed towards finding an effective solution one that balances constitutional principles but at the same time, protects and safeguards the religious autonomy of the believers".
