T’puram: Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB) chief K Jayakumar dismissed reports that he is planning to resign, saying he will complete his tenure that runs until Nov 2027. Jayakumar said there were no fundamental differences between him and devaswom minister K Muraleedharan and that any issues arising from miscommunication could be resolved through discussions. “I have no intention of resigning as the TDB chief. I’m standing in the battlefield. Such reports will only weaken us,” he said, adding that he was busy with preparations for the upcoming pilgrimage season at Sabarimala.He said TDB was not informed about the appointment of a security guard exclusively for the minister at Sabarimala but described it as a normal administrative arrangement. He added that differences in decisions could sometimes disappoint certain people, who might then attempt to create an impression that there were grave differences within the board and govt.Jayakumar said govt had not made him feel unwelcome and that there was no unusual interference from the minister’s office. He said that some statements he and the minister made could create the impression that they were on different sides. Jayakumar said he was unaware that VP CP Radhakrishnan had come for an event in Aranmula but clarified that he had no grievances and that he had cordial links with Aranmula’s Palliyoda Seva Sangam.Jayakumar’s clarification comes days after Muraleedharan publicly expressed dissatisfaction over TDB’s functioning. He had particularly criticised TDB for serving separate sadyas at the same venue on Thiruvonam day. Muraleedharan had said he was dissatisfied with TDB’s functioning, while noting that Guruvayur and Malabar devaswom boards were cooperating with govt.
