Speaking at a press conference, Rajasekharan said the mass agitation in 2018 was a "completely justified" movement aimed at protecting the traditional customs of Sabarimala and the interests of millions of devotees.
He criticised the United Democratic Front (UDF) government for still pursuing legal cases against participants in the 2018 protests, calling the continued litigation a political vendetta that undermines the rights of those who defended the temple’s age‑old practice.
Rajasekharan also singled out the State government and the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) for neglecting essential preparations ahead of the annual pilgrimage, which begins in about 55 days with the Mandalam‑Makaravilakku festival.
According to the BJP leader, the roads leading to the Sabarimala shrine remain riddled with potholes, and repair work that should have started in May has not yet commenced, raising safety concerns for the expected influx of pilgrims.
He added that basic amenities such as drinking‑water distribution, health‑care services and sanitation facilities have been "completely neglected," potentially jeopardising the health and comfort of devotees during the peak season.
The remarks come as the Kerala government prepares for one of the state’s biggest religious gatherings, drawing hundreds of thousands of pilgrims, and highlight a growing political tussle over the management of the shrine and the handling of the 2018 protests.