Sabarimala Melsanthi selection under suspicion

Thiruvananthapuram: The selection process for appointing the next melsanthi of Sabarimala Lord Ayyappa temple has come under a cloud of suspicion with the list of shortlisted candidates published by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) after the interview contradicting with the official list signed by TDB Secretary PR Anitha.

The draw of lots to select the priests, the final stage in the selection process, will be held at Sabarimala on Tuesday morning.

The copy of the official list of 10 candidates prepared by the Secretary, after the interview, which is in possession of lists MS Parameswaran Namboodiri of Madavana Mana at Puliyanam in Angamaly as the fourth candidate.

But the list issued by TDB Public Relations Officer to the media does not have this candidate's name. In this list, the fourth name is of N Parameswaran Namboodiri of Kaleekkal Madom in Mavelikkara.

The names of Malikappuram melsanthi candidates are same in both the lists. "The mismatch between the lists of shortlisted candidates prepared by two key officials of the TDB for Sabarimala melsanthi post points to an attempt at manipulation," sources said.

TDB Secretary Anitha said that she could not exactly recollect the name of the person originally selected as there were several identical names in the list.

The interviews for shortlisting the applicants for Sabarimala melsanthi and Malikappuram melsanthi posts were held at the TDB headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram on October 3 and 4 respectively.

Ten priests were shortlisted from among 47 applicants for the Sabarimala melsanthi post and 13 priests were shortlisted for the Malikappuram melsanthi post from among 33 candidates.

In last June, the TDB had announced that the new selection process evolved out after discussions with Supreme Court former judge KT Thomas. Thomas was appointed as a mediator by the Supreme Court.

The interview board comprised TDB president M Rajagopalan Nair, members K V Padmanabhan and K Sicily, Devaswom Commissioner N Vasu, Sabarimala thantris Kandararu Maheswararu and Kandararu Rajeevaru and Aluva Thantra Vidyapeedam principal Mannarassala Subrahmanian Namboodiri. There were allegations of corruption in the interview in the past.

Justice Paripoornan Commission, in its report submitted to the High Court, had recommended to keep the TDB president and members away from the selection process.