Kerala Assembly polls 2026 | The temple that returns to Kerala’s political arena every election

The Sabarimala Ayyappa Temple is once again at the center of Kerala's political debate ahead of the 2026 assembly elections. The ruling LDF government has held a Global Ayyappa Sangamam and reversed its earlier stance on women's entry, while the opposition UDF is focusing on alleged gold theft at the temple as a campaign issue. Religious politics surrounding the temple has become a recurring electoral flashpoint in the state.