TDB chief rules out resignation, says he will complete term

Travancore Devaswom Board president K Jayakumar has ruled out resigning, saying he has no reason to step down and will remain in office until his term ends in November 2027.

Jayakumar was responding to reports that he intended to resign after Devaswom Minister K Muraleedharan wrote to the board eight times to express disagreement with its decisions. “I have not decided to resign. There is no need for it now. My term is until November 2027 and I will complete my term and leave,” he said.

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I have not decided to resign. There is no need for it now. My term is until November 2027 and I will complete my term and leave.

The former state chief secretary, who was appointed during the previous Left government, denied that his differences with the government amounted to a crisis. “There is no fundamental difference of opinion with the government. There is no crisis in the Devaswom Board that warrants me leaving,” he said. Jayakumar added that disagreements on individual issues were normal and had not affected his work.

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There is no fundamental difference of opinion with the government. There is no crisis in the Devaswom Board that warrants me leaving.

He said the board was now focused on preparations for the coming Sabarimala pilgrimage season. After a meeting, he planned to travel to Sabarimala to begin deep-cleaning work in coordination with Clean Kerala Company.

Jayakumar also said he had not been informed about reports that a government guard had been appointed for the minister at the Sabarimala camp office. He said security personnel were generally assigned to VIP visitors, and board members also had guards when visiting the hill shrine.

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There may be differences of opinion on some issues. But that has not affected my way of functioning.