Top

Kerala Assembly Elections: Muslim groups call shots

PDP, Welfare Party and SDPI may influence mandate in a few constituencies

KOZHIKODE: The CPM and the Congress had faced allegations of secret tie-up with Muslim splinter groups like PDP, Welfare Party and SDPI in the past. This time also, these parties have a decisive role in crucial seats where they have no candidates. But all of them have declared the BJP as their opponent.

The SDPI, the political face of Popular Front of India (PFI) and Welfare Party, the political outfit of Jamaat-e-Islami, claim that there is no difference between the LDF and the UDF. But the election history reveals the pro-LDF swing of these parties. The SDPI is contesting in 97 seats and supporting Samajvadi Party in 15 this time.

The party state secretariat member Nasiruddin Elamaram says that their prime aim is to prevent the BJP from opening an account. “For that, we will vote for the LDF/UDF candidate whoever has more chance to win,” he told DC.

The SDPI claims to have the power to decide the victory in 29 seats. The party had won 49 seats in the local body polls, more in southern Kerala. But the party was accused of voting for the CPM, especially in seats such as Thalassery.

“That’s ridiculous. The LDF is no better than the UDF in upholding minority rights. This time, the CPM had sold six seats in Malappuram,” Mr Elamaran alleges. The Welfare Party is contesting in 41 seats, including Mankada, Azheekode, Perinthalmanna, Tanur and Koduvally where a neck and neck fight is going on. “In other seats, the party will declare its stand later,” says Welfare Party state secretary, K.A. Shafeek.

The party had won 42 seats in the local body polls. Traditionally, the Jamaat-e-Islami prefers the LDF over the UDF and the presence of its own candidate may affect the LDF chances in seats such as Perambra.

Social critic M.N. Karasserry observes that the real enemy of the three parties, whose real face is ‘Islamic politics,’ is Indian Union Muslim League (IUML).
“They used to have a secret understanding with the CPM to weaken the IUML. Their ultimate aim is to weaken the IUML which possesses a huge chunk of Muslim votes and replace it with Islamist agenda,” Karaserry warns.

He pointed out that it was not the IUML, but the SDPI which put up the flex boards of Ariyil Shukoor, who was allegedly killed by the CPM, across the state to push Islamist politics.

( Source : Deccan Chronicle. )
Next Story