The change in government in Kerala, with the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) returning to power after a decade, is expected to influence the state's legal position in the Supreme Court's review of the Sabarimala temple entry case. The current nine-judge Constitution Bench, led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, is conducting day-to-day hearings on pleas challenging the 2018 verdict that allowed women of all ages to enter the temple.

The new state government is likely to align with the UDF's longstanding position of supporting traditional practices at Sabarimala, which restrict the entry of women aged 10 to 50. This contrasts with the previous LDF government's 2018 affidavit, which supported unrestricted access for women and opposed gender-based discrimination in temple entry. In March 2026, the outgoing LDF administration adopted a neutral stance, urging broad consultations before any decision, without explicitly backing either side.

The UDF government, during its previous term in 2016, had filed an affidavit asserting that the age-based restriction was an essential religious practice protected under Articles 25 and 26 of the Constitution. The incoming administration is expected to revive that position, potentially filing fresh submissions in the ongoing proceedings. The state government's legal stance carries significant weight in the case, as it is a party to the litigation.

The Supreme Court is expected to continue hearing arguments in the matter, with the next session scheduled for later this week. The court will consider both the legal and constitutional dimensions of the issue, including the state's revised position, before delivering a final verdict.