Sabarimala Temple, Erumeli Mosque, Parumala Church&nbsp;— Kerala's Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency is home to some of India's most revered shrines from across the faiths. It's these&nbsp;religious landmarks that forced advertising icon&nbsp;Walter Mendez to come up with 'God's own country' catchphrase for Kerala Tourism in 1989.&nbsp;

While Pathanamthitta's landmarks of faith have remained unchanged for several centuries, in recent years, it's the political landmarks of this constituency that have undergone a significant change. The constituency has been a bastion of Congress-led alliances since its formation in 2008. But in Bharatiya Janata Party's growing presence in Kerala's Travancore region, Pathanamthitta has remained its key electoral focus.

<img alt="BJP's vote share in Pathanamthitta since 2009 Lok Sabha elections | WION" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="e74ce93e-76fd-4f80-af67-1012c130443b" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pathanamthitta.png" />

BJP's vote share in Pathanamthitta since 2009 Lok Sabha elections | WION

Congress leader Anto Antony is seeking re-election from Pathanamthitta for a fourth term in a row.&nbsp;In an interesting Antony Vs. Antony electoral battle, Anto Antony is up against the BJP's Anil Antony, son of former Indian defence minister and Congress party veteran&nbsp;AK Antony.

 
<img alt="Anto Antony is the candidate for Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) from Pathanamthitta | X/@antoantonyinc" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="d848a8bb-a9d9-403c-851d-99cc0da8fb1c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/Pathanamthitta%20%281%29.png" />

Anto Antony is the candidate for Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) from Pathanamthitta | X/@antoantonyinc

Speaking to WION, Anil Antony said&nbsp;that Pathanamthitta has the potential to become a key religious-cultural centre in Kerala. But "due to underdevelopment and lack of infrastructure, the place is not reaching its potential."&nbsp;

"The Congress MP has not delivered development in the last 15 years," Anil said.

A number of BJP functionaries say that Pathanamthitta features on top of the list of seats that BJP hopes to win in Kerala this time, and Anil Antony agrees with the assessment.

"Last time Pathanamthitta was one of the seats where we had the highest vote share in Kerala," Anil said.

Referring to the BJP's campaign overdrive in the constituency, Antony expressed confidence that his "blueprint" for the constituency's development has been able to convince the electorate to vote for him.

"More and more people are showing the support to me and my party, who traditionally had been the supporters of other parties. I am expecting a significant win for the party in Pathanamthitta. This time when we win more than 370 seats for the party and 400 seats for the alliance, I am very much sure that one of them is going to be this constituency," he said.&nbsp;

But a lot of the BJP's electioneering in Pathanamthitta has to do with the way the party has attempted to appeal to the constituency's Christian electorate.

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Attended a meeting organised by Believers Eastern Church in Thiruvalla today attended by over 100 priests. Metropolitan of Kerala Mar Silvanious, and the Church PRO Rev. Father Sijo Panthapallil had attended the ceremony. This is the first election where an organised church has… <a href="https://t.co/4hrHg94LVl">pic.twitter.com/4hrHg94LVl</a>
— Anil K Antony (Modiyude Kudumbam) (@anilkantony) <a href="https://twitter.com/anilkantony/status/1782339968930853309?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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Christian and Nair communities, combined, form nearly half of the constituency's population.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The&nbsp;BJP had already made inroads into the Nair community&nbsp;with the tacit support of key community welfare organisation&nbsp;Nair Service Society. It needs to be seen if the rest of the Hindu communities and Muslim votes — which when combined add&nbsp;up to the&nbsp;remaining half — along with non-committed Christians and Nairs would derail the BJP's hopes.&nbsp;

Pathanamthitta is scheduled to vote on April 26. The counting of votes will begin on June 4, 2024.

Sabarimala Temple, Erumeli Mosque, Parumala Church — Kerala's Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency is home to some of India's most revered shrines from across the faiths.

Sabarimala Temple, Erumeli Mosque, Parumala Church — Kerala's Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency is home to some of India's most revered shrines from across the faiths. It's these religious landmarks that forced advertising icon Walter Mendez to come up with 'God's own country' catchphrase for Kerala Tourism in 1989. While Pathanamthitta's landmarks of faith have remained unchanged for several centuries, in recent years, it's the political landmarks of this constituency that have undergone a significant change. The constituency has been a bastion of Congress-led alliances since its formation in 2008. But in Bharatiya Janata Party's growing presence in Kerala's Travancore region, Pathanamthitta has remained its key electoral focus. BJP's vote share in Pathanamthitta since 2009 Lok Sabha elections | WION Congress leader Anto Antony is seeking re-election from Pathanamthitta for a fourth term in a row. In an interesting Antony Vs. Antony electoral battle, Anto Antony is up against the BJP's Anil Antony, son of former Indian defence minister and Congress party veteran AK Antony. Anto Antony is the candidate for Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) from Pathanamthitta | X/@antoantonyinc Speaking to WION, Anil Antony said that Pathanamthitta has the potential to become a key religious-cultural centre in Kerala. But "due to underdevelopment and lack of infrastructure, the place is not reaching its potential." "The Congress MP has not delivered development in the last 15 years," Anil said. A number of BJP functionaries say that Pathanamthitta features on top of the list of seats that BJP hopes to win in Kerala this time, and Anil Antony agrees with the assessment. "Last time Pathanamthitta was one of the seats where we had the highest vote share in Kerala," Anil said. Referring to the BJP's campaign overdrive in the constituency, Antony expressed confidence that his "blueprint" for the constituency's development has been able to convince the electorate to vote for him. "More and more people are showing the support to me and my party, who traditionally had been the supporters of other parties. I am expecting a significant win for the party in Pathanamthitta. This time when we win more than 370 seats for the party and 400 seats for the alliance, I am very much sure that one of them is going to be this constituency," he said. But a lot of the BJP's electioneering in Pathanamthitta has to do with the way the party has attempted to appeal to the constituency's Christian electorate. Attended a meeting organised by Believers Eastern Church in Thiruvalla today attended by over 100 priests. Metropolitan of Kerala Mar Silvanious, and the Church PRO Rev. Father Sijo Panthapallil had attended the ceremony. This is the first election where an organised church has… pic.twitter.com/4hrHg94LVl — Anil K Antony (Modiyude Kudumbam) (@anilkantony) April 22, 2024 × Christian and Nair communities, combined, form nearly half of the constituency's population. The BJP had already made inroads into the Nair community with the tacit support of key community welfare organisation Nair Service Society. It needs to be seen if the rest of the Hindu communities and Muslim votes — which when combined add up to the remaining half — along with non-committed Christians and Nairs would derail the BJP's hopes. Pathanamthitta is scheduled to vote on April 26. The counting of votes will begin on June 4, 2024.

Battle of the Bastions: Antony Vs Antony faceoff in Kerala's Pathanamthitta

A day before Sabarimala Temple opens for the Mandala Pooja festival tight security arrangements have been made in Pathanamthitta district, the location of the shrine.

Devotees will be able to visit the temple from November 17.

Pathanamthitta District Collector PB Nooh said that all basic necessities such as toilets, water kiosks and medical emergency centres are in place.

"All basic arrangements are in place. We have deployed over 800 medical staff and established 16 medical emergency centres. Around 2,400 toilets and more than 250 water kiosks are ready. We have more than 1,000 sanitation workers deployed to ensure a clean atmosphere," he told reporters here.

Earlier in the day, Kerala Devaswom Board Minister K Surendran said the state government will not provide protection to any woman visiting the temple and those who need protection should get an order from the Supreme Court.

The opening of the Sabarimala Temple comes a day after a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had referred a clutch of petitions seeking review of its order which paved the way for the entry of women into Sabarimala temple in Kerala to a larger seven-judge bench by a majority 3:2 ruling.

The top court also observed that the right to worship by an individual cannot outweigh the rights of a religious group.

While Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra sent the review petitions to a larger bench, Justices Nariman and Chandrachud authored a dissenting judgment.

The review petitions challenged the authority of the apex court to intervene in the belief of the people. It argued that the temple deity is a "Brahmachari" (celibate) and "centuries-old beliefs" should not be disturbed by the entry of menstruating women worshippers.

A day before Sabarimala Temple opens for the Mandala Pooja festival tight security arrangements have been made in Pathanamthitta district, the location of the shrine.

A day before Sabarimala Temple opens for the Mandala Pooja festival tight security arrangements have been made in Pathanamthitta district, the location of the shrine. Devotees will be able to visit the temple from November 17. Pathanamthitta District Collector PB Nooh said that all basic necessities such as toilets, water kiosks and medical emergency centres are in place. "All basic arrangements are in place. We have deployed over 800 medical staff and established 16 medical emergency centres. Around 2,400 toilets and more than 250 water kiosks are ready. We have more than 1,000 sanitation workers deployed to ensure a clean atmosphere," he told reporters here. Earlier in the day, Kerala Devaswom Board Minister K Surendran said the state government will not provide protection to any woman visiting the temple and those who need protection should get an order from the Supreme Court. The opening of the Sabarimala Temple comes a day after a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court had referred a clutch of petitions seeking review of its order which paved the way for the entry of women into Sabarimala temple in Kerala to a larger seven-judge bench by a majority 3:2 ruling. The top court also observed that the right to worship by an individual cannot outweigh the rights of a religious group. While Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi, Justices A M Khanwilkar and Indu Malhotra sent the review petitions to a larger bench, Justices Nariman and Chandrachud authored a dissenting judgment. The review petitions challenged the authority of the apex court to intervene in the belief of the people. It argued that the temple deity is a "Brahmachari" (celibate) and "centuries-old beliefs" should not be disturbed by the entry of menstruating women worshippers.

Kerala: Ahead of Sabarimala Temple's opening, security arrangements tightened in Pathanamthitta

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