BJP petitions against conducting kumbabishekam without completing works at temple in Salem

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Saturday (February 7, 2026), submitted a petition to the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) Department to not conduct the kumbabishekam at Shevapet Mariamman Temple without completing the renovation works.

The BJP cadre, led by Environment Protection Cell president R.P. Gopinath, submitted the petition to the Joint Director of the HR&CE Department.

Addressing the media, Mr. Gopinath said that the renovation works are under way at one of the oldest Mariamman temples in Shevapet. While the Department has announced unexpectedly that the kumbabishekam will be held on February 22, most of the renovation works are yet to be done, which is against the agama rules.

He added that the Department is allegedly trying to conduct the kumbabishekam in a hurry before the announcement of State Assembly elections and to add the names of the DMK functionaries. The works should be completed as per agama rules, post which a new date should be fixed. “If the HR&CE Department fails to change the date, on behalf of the BJP, a case will be filed in the Madras High Court within the next 24 hours,” said Mr. Gopinath.