A two-day CPI(M) Pathanamthitta district committee meeting that concluded on Sunday saw a section of party workers sharply criticise the Global Ayyappa Meet, calling it as a major political misstep.

Participants said the event, projected as a flagship initiative of the Pinarayi Vijayan government and held soon after the Sabarimala gold smuggling controversy came to light, had politically backfired. What was intended as a counter to allegations against the LDF government over the administration of Sabarimala, they observed, ended up deepening the political damage and contributing to the party’s electoral setback in the district.

Strong concern was also raised over the leadership’s delay in initiating action against former Travancore Devaswom Board president A. Padmakumar, an accused in the gold smuggling case. The State leadership’s position that action could be taken only after a chargesheet was filed, delegates noted, failed to convince both party workers and the public.

Members further argued that the decision to organise a programme centred around religious sentiment sat uneasily with the Left’s political positioning, and that the party was unable to effectively defend the move. Adding to the criticism was the perceived optics of the event, with delegates flagging the extensive use of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s images rather than a focus on Lord Ayyappa, as well as the inclusion of greetings from Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath— developments they said created adverse political messaging.

Kerala Congress (M), an ally of the CPI(M), too had observed earlier that the delay in action against Padmakumar was a key factor in the defeat of its candidate, Pramod Narayan, in Ranni constituency.