Dr. Hedgewar Road in Thiruvananthapuram came into existence with the support of both the Congress and the League, says M.S. Kumar.

Senior BJP leader M.S. Kumar has revealed that Dr. Hedgewar Road in Thiruvananthapuram came into existence with the support of both the Congress and the Muslim League. The road, located in front of the western entrance of the Sree Padmanabhaswamy Temple, has carried the name Dr. Hedgewar Road for decades. According to him, this naming happened between 1988 and 1993, and it was done despite mild opposition from the CPI(M).

In a Facebook post, M.S. Padmakumar explained that during the 1988–1993 period, the Thiruvananthapuram municipal council was predominantly controlled by the CPI(M), which had long governed the city. Prominent leaders like Kosala Ramadas, Karamana Soman, Kalipankulam Soman, M.P. Padmanabhan, and Stanley Satyaneshan were continuously in power. Out of the 50-member council elected in 1988, the majority were CPI(M) members, and leaders like Jayan Babu, Karamana Hari, M.P. Padmanabhan, and Stanley Satyaneshan were also part of it. The BJP had six members, including Kumar himself.

During that term, Kumar proposed a motion to name the major road in front of the western gate of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple as Dr. Hedgewar Road and to install a name board. The motion was passed with the support of Congress and two Muslim League members, despite minor opposition from the CPI(M).

He added that if the Congress could honor a national leader and freedom fighter 25 years ago, its failure to do so now reflects the political intimidation it faces today. Criticizing leaders like Rahul Mankootathil for protesting in Palakkad without knowing or studying history, he said that it brings back memories of past events.