Kannur 04 May (H.S.): In an unusual and symbolic gesture, a special Vishnu Puja has been offered in the name of Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan at a temple in Kannur on the day of vote counting for the 2026 Assembly elections.

The ritual is being conducted at the Kanathoor Mahavishnu Temple in Pallikkunnu, which comes under the Malabar Devaswom Board. According to temple sources, a devotee who regularly visits the temple arranged the offering, invoking blessings in the Chief Minister’s name.

The offering receipt was registered under the name “Pinarayi Vijayan, Chothi Nakshatram,” referring to the Chief Minister’s birth star, a customary detail included in temple rituals in Kerala. The devotee reportedly paid ₹250 as the offering amount.

Though the offering was booked on Sunday, the actual puja is scheduled to be performed on Monday, coinciding with the crucial counting day of votes across the state. The timing has drawn attention, given the high political stakes, with the ruling Left Democratic Front seeking a consecutive term under Vijayan’s leadership.

Temple authorities clarified that such offerings are not uncommon, as devotees often conduct rituals in the names of individuals for health, success, or well-being. However, the gesture has gained prominence due to the political context and the identity of the person in whose name the puja is being performed.

As counting progresses across Kerala, such symbolic acts reflect the intense public interest and emotional investment surrounding the electoral outcome.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Arun Lakshman