Kottayam: The Idukki diocese will adopt an 'equidistance' policy towards all political fronts in the Lok Sabha elections, contrary to the open support it extended to the High Range Samrakshana Samithi last time.
Idukki diocese bishop John Nellikunnel told Deccan Chronicle that he had asked the priests in the diocese to keep off the different fronts.
"The people should decide whom to vote for and the Church members can follow suit. I have issued a WhatsApp message to the priests not to interfere in the elections and they will comply with it," he said.
The situation was different in 2014 when the Gadgil - Kasturirangan report on the Western Ghats had caused concern to the people in Idukki and the
HRSS was floated. Joice George was fielded as LDF-supported independent candidate in protest against the recommendations. The Idukki diocese under the then Bishop Mathew Anikuzhikattil flayed the adamant stand of the then sitting MP P.T. Thomas on the report and opposed the UDF.
Consequently, Joice George defeated UDF candidate Dean Kuriakose by a margin of 50, 542 votes. Thomas had won the seat in 2009 with a majority of 74, 796 votes against LDF's Francis George. The stand of the Idukki diocese was said to be the main reason for the UDF's defeat.
However, the diocese has adopted a neutral stand this time with most of the demands of the HRSS having been met. The major issue now is the plight of the farmers following the deluge last year and it remains to be seen which front will be hit by this.
