Pathanamthitta: In Kerala's Pathanamthitta, BJP’s K Surendran is leading. Pathanamthitta in Kerala is home to the contentious temple Sabarimala. It remains unpredictable as UDF’s sitting MP Anto Antony and BJP’s K Surendran are in the race, pushing the LDF candidate behind. According to political analysts, the BJP has been scoring on the Sabarimala issue wrapped with religious and communal overtones. 

BJP is making its presence felt in Kerala this time, and several exit polls have predicted that the BJP will open its first ever Lok Sabha seat this year in the state.

Before the Lok Sabha election, Ayyappa devotees have been staging protests since October last year with an intention to preserve the tradition in Sabarimala. The Ayyappa devotees also insist that in the election manifesto, it should be clearly written that the party favours and will protect the Sabarimala temple.

The devotees openly posted posters on the walls outside their homes, indicating that they will only vote for the candidate, who will seek votes with the open promise of supporting Sabarimala and its tradition.