In response to the questions posed by the Economic Times whilst a meet with selected senior journalists in Indore, Rahul Gandhi, Congress president, said that he personally thinks that women should be allowed to enter Sabarimala temple yet he emphasised on the fact that his party has a different view including a majority of people in Kerala. He further said that the party represents the people and will be supporting the same. 

Pinarayi Vijayan, Kerala chief minister, through a Facebook post, appreciated Rahul Gandhi’s stand on the issue and also observed the difference in opinion between the central leaders and the state leaders of the Congress. He expresses regret in the fact that Kerala Congress "unfortunately won’t be following the views of the All India Congress Committee president". Vijayan added that the stance taken up by the Kerala Congress is reflective of the ‘anti-democratic stage’ they have reached.

“This is clear proof that the Kerala Congress has strayed from such values. A section of the Congress leadership in Kerala is supporting this conservative stance. However, such a stance is also going to help the BJP. Kerala Congress’s dangerous stance is one which is aligning with the political views of the Sangh Parivar,” Vijayan said. Vijayan added that he would like to know the take of those Congress members, who respect the Constitution and law and order with respect to this issue.