The Congress and the Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday walked out of the all-party meeting on Sabarimala temple called by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

The meeting was convened to take stock of the arrangements made for devotees ahead of the two-month-long annual ‘Mandala Makkaravillakku’ season which will start on November 17.

The hill temple had witnessed widespread protests following the Supreme Court decision to permit entry of women of all ages into the shrine.

The leaders walked out after Vijayan reiterated the government’s stance that the state has no option but to implement the apex court ruling.

“Supreme Court clearly says that the September 28 verdict stands. It means that the entry of women should be allowed. Govt cannot take any stand against this verdict. We respect the feelings of the devotees. We are bound to implement court verdict,” the chief minister said.

The meeting comes a day after the apex court refused to stay its September 28 verdict, lifting the centuries-old ban on girls and women in the 10-50 age group from entering the shrine.

However, the court said a five-judge Constitution bench will hear all the 49 review petitions on January 22.

Read | SC agrees to reconsider Sabarimala temple verdict in open court on Jan 22

National Association of Aayappa Devotees, Nair Service Society, and 17 other organisation had moved the review petition seeking a recall of the verdict.

Over 500 young women had registered for darshan in the online queue website of Kerala police last week.

A five-judge Constitution Bench headed by the then Chief Justice Misra had junked the age-old tradition of the Lord Ayyappa temple by a majority verdict of 4:1.

The temple which opened its doors for a five-day monthly pooja on October 17 witnessed massive protests by various devotee groups and Hindu outfits against the Pinarayi Vijayan government’s decision to implement the apex court order without going for any review petition.

Though attempts had been made by some young women, including an activist, to enter the temple of the ‘Naishtik Brahmachari’, the eternally celibate deity, the devotees backed by priests stood their ground, saying they would not allow the tradition to be breached.

According to police sources, 12 women in the 10-50 age group were prevented from offering worship at the temple, since it opened for the monthly pooja.

Over 3,700 persons have been arrested so far and 546 cases registered against various people for violence during protests across the state.