Synopsis: For the CPI(M), the timing of the alleged gold theft in Sabarimala becoming public is a nightmare. Local body polls are not just political events; they are indicators of cadre discipline, mobilisation strength, and rural support — all of which form the bedrock of LDF’s dominance.

As Kerala moves into the decisive stretch of the two-phase local body elections scheduled for 9 and 11 December, the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) finds itself navigating a formidable, politically turbulent waters. This time, however, the storm is not ideological — it is criminal.

The alleged misappropriation of gold from the Sabarimala Sannidhanam and the arrest of former Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) president and CPI(M) loyalist N Vasu have triggered a credibility crisis that threatens to

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