New Delhi: When Communist Party of India (Marxist) Kerala state secretary MV Govindan last month highlighted the need for “political unity” against communalism, describing the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) as a “democratic” organisation, he The cat stood among the pigeons. This is because the IUML – a party based out of Kerala with a largely Muslim and very committed base – has been an ally of the Congress for more than five decades, though it has allied with the Left in the past.
Govindan’s comment was Explained IUML as a “feeler” in many quarters. The uproar they created can perhaps only be compared to the disquiet that the IUML caused to its own ally, the Congress, when Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor met IUML chief Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal in November .
The meeting was chaired by Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president K.K. Sudhakaran’s claim that former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru had shown “generosity” by inducting Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) leader SP Mukherjee into his cabinet. Sudhakaran’s comment was drawn open criticism From IUML.
the fact that Tharoor’s The Kerala tour had faced hurdles from the IUML, Tharoor and the state Congress unit to brainstorm in the party about the situation in Kerala. Senior leaders in Delhi wondered whether the meeting indicated that Tharoor was a more acceptable Congress face in Kerala than the current state leadership.
Govindan created a political storm on 10 December 2022 when he said, “They (IUML) can look at such things from a secular point of view. The CPI(M) wants to strengthen the Left Democratic Front (LDF) . Doors are open for any party willing to give up right-wing politics. All secular and democratic parties and forces should come together to fight religious fascism. LDF is a political alliance with a clear policy, but we have not given any party Not invited.”
Many, including the Communist Party of India (CPI) – the second largest partner in the LDF – interpreted Govindan’s remarks as an offer CPI(M) for IUML, and CPI expressed his displeasure,
Both the incidents involving the Congress and the Left and their consequences show that no matter which side of the political divide you are on, if you are in Kerala politics, you cannot ignore the IUML.
Formed in 1948 in Madras (now Chennai), IUML is a part of the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) coalition in Kerala and has also been a part of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government at the Centre. It has a very strong influence in districts in north Kerala that have a high Muslim population, such as Malappuram, Kannur (Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s home district), and Kasaragod.
When Rahul Gandhi, the then Congress president, filed his nomination from Wayanad ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections, the sea of flags prominently featured green flags of the IUML – which sparked a controversy, with the BJP alleging that these There were Pakistani flags. The party currently has 15 seats in the 140-member Kerala Legislative Assembly, as well as one in the Rajya Sabha and three in the Lok Sabha (including one MP from Tamil Nadu).
ThePrint contacted IUML Lok Sabha member and organizing secretary (national committee) ET Muhammad Basheer over telephone, SMS and email, and PK Kunhalikutty, general secretary (national committee) via telephone and WhatsApp. This article will be updated upon response. ThePrint also contacted several Left leaders, state ministers and MPs. Awaiting a response.
Rumors of Left alliance a few months old
While Govindan’s comments have given new life to speculation about IUML joining the ruling coalition, the idea had started doing the rounds only after the LDF won a second consecutive assembly election in 2021, mostly due to Covid. Management was governed by its own record. Epidemic.
It was Vijeta who arrived with LDF convenor EP Jayarajan Extending an open invitation to IUML in April 2021 to join the alliance – part of a plan to expand the LDF with the inclusion of new parties. The Muslim League leaders then rejected the proposal, calling it a “random proposal” that had not even been discussed within the LDF.
Political commentator J. According to Prabhas, the IUML outreach is an attempt by the Left to guard itself against a possible anti-incumbency wave when it seeks the people’s mandate again in 2026 after two consecutive terms. But it’s really a win-win for both, he says.
“IUML has been a Left ally, but that was way back in 1967. The Left has since avoided an alliance with any major parties whose base is from a particular religion. But it seems that is changing now. In its earlier term, it was the Kerala Congress (Mani), which has a predominantly Christian base, and is now reaching out to the IUML. The objective is two things – they want to eliminate the Congress in Kerala by making their biggest ally a victim and the second, of course, is the pursuit of power. For the IUML, it is very clear that it cannot face another term out of power,” says Prabash.
Political observers also talk about a possible plan to promote Tourism Minister and Chief Minister Vijayan’s son-in-law PA Mohammed Riyas in the reach of a Muslim party. Although many believe Rias is too young to be the successor to the CMO, some commentators say pressure from a powerful ally could propel him to the chair.
Congress dilemma
For the Congress, on the other hand, its internal politics seems to be putting external pressure on its relationship with one of its oldest allies. Tharoor, who has been very active in the state since he contested and lost the election for the post of Congress president, has been visiting the state. There are several accounts, including some tweets from Tharoor himself, that suggest the party’s state unit is not entirely comfortable with the former UN official and high-profile MP visiting the house frequently.
However, during one of these visits, Tharoor met the IUML chief, causing much consternation at the party headquarters in Delhi, where a section felt that his visits were met with opposition from some powerful people. All India Congress Committee office-bearers, even if he comes across as a more acceptable face for the IUML.
“It is not good for the party. If there is a leader who has connect with the people, whose popularity is increasing, then he should be encouraged, he is a valuable asset for the party. Resorting to such frivolity not only harms the Congress, but can also affect relations with allies like the IUML, who are conscious of their popularity. It will also lead to factionalism in the state – something the Congress cannot tolerate,” a senior AICC functionary told ThePrint.
(Edited by Smriti Sinha)
Read also: ‘Only a few are destined to face the law?’ Urdu press questions ‘inaction’ against Pragya Thakur