By Simply when the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) was grappling with inner contradictions and struggling to tame the highly effective Sunni physique, the Samastha Kerala Jem-iyyathul Ulama which the get together helps, the recently-elected CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan stirred a hornet’s nest by endorsing the secular credentials of the IUML.
The abrupt overtures by the CPI(M) chief to the IUML, a celebration that the Left events had at all times branded as a communal outfit, despatched jitters throughout the 2 major coalitions in Kerala — the Opposition United Democratic Entrance (UDF) led by the Congress and the ruling Left Democratic Entrance (LDF), headed by the CPI(M).
The IUML leaders, together with the get together State president Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, whereas welcoming the CPI(M) chief’s phrases of appreciation additionally asserted that the get together had no plans to change loyalties from the UDF to the ruling Left entrance.
“We’re strongly rooted within the UDF,” Mr. Thangal categorically acknowledged.
Conscious that any reciprocal transfer by the IUML would depart the UDF in shambles, Congress leaders responded to Mr. Govindan’s remarks with warning and a little bit of sarcasm. Opposition chief V.D. Satheesan mentioned it was heartening that the CPI(M) had lastly realised that the IUML was not a communal outfit. Former Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Okay. Muraleedharan was extra blunt together with his comment that the UDF can be significantly weakened if the IUML opted out.
The CPI, understandably edgy over the prospect of dropping the standing of the second largest LDF coalition accomplice to a newcomer, termed Mr. Govindan’s assertion as immature and felt that it was not the accountability of the Left events to difficulty a personality certificates to the IUML.
The Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP), nonetheless, views the CPI(M) bid to woo the IUML as a harmful try to divide Kerala society on communal strains.
Political analysts observe that CPI(M) is attempting to woo the Muslim group by way of the IUML because the get together is aware of it’s regularly dropping reputation in Kerala after coming to energy for a second consecutive time.
Mr. Govindan’s assertion, many consider, was additionally geared toward sowing the seeds of confusion inside the UDF at a time when the IUML had expressed unhappiness with KPCC president Okay. Sudhakaran’s controversial pro-RSS assertion.
Moreover, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan was holding direct discussions with the Samastha leaders on varied points equivalent to Waqf board appointments and the controversial proposal to implement gender neutrality in schooling.
Although the IUML management has thus far not responded to the CPI(M)‘s gestures, there are indications {that a} part inside the get together is yearning for a shift in political equations as a result of it feels the IUML is spending time within the wilderness with out energy on the Centre as effectively within the State.
For fairly a while, the CPI(M) management in Kerala has been wooing the communitarian events, particularly for the reason that BJP authorities led by Narendra Modi got here to energy on the Centre in 2014. The get together appears to have been emboldened to woo the IUML after it gained over a sizeable part of the Christian group in Kerala by bringing the Kerala Congress(M) into the LDF fold in 2020, dealing a heavy blow to the UDF in Central Travancore, which was as soon as its political bastion.
With 15 Meeting seats, the IUML is the second largest contingent within the UDF after the Congress with 21 seats.
However the CPI(M) can also be cautious of upsetting its core voter base by wooing communitarian events. Political commentators really feel that Mr. Govindan had solely taken up the place former CPI(M) State secretary Kodiyeri Balakrishnan left together with his outreach to the IUML.
By the way, the IUML management seems to be divided on the latest allegations raised in opposition to LDF convenor E.P. Jayarajan by his get together colleague and CPI(M) State committee member P. Jayarajan. The part within the IUML camp that yearns for a tie-up with the CPI(M) has dismissed the difficulty as an inner matter of that get together.
Whether or not the IUML management takes a historic resolution to shift allegiance to the CPI(M)-led LDF will likely be decided by adjustments within the political panorama within the State. However that’s unlikely to occur till the 2024 Lok Sabha polls.
