Thiruvananthapuram, April 14: Thiruvananthapuram cent the women, agencies MUSLIMS constitute only about 25 per cent of Kerala’s total population, but they still play a crucial role in the assembly elections in the state.
Both the United Democratic Front ( UDF) and the Left Democratic Front ( LDF), and even the BJP vie for a share in the vote pie of the minority community.
Interestingly, in this assembly election, the Muslim votes are not going to be consolidated for any of the fronts. The presence of pro- Muslim outfits such as the Social Democratic Party of India ( SDPI) and the People’s Democratic Party ( PDP) will be a big headache for both the fronts.
However, with the Indian Union Muslim League ( IUML) on their side, the Congressled UDF is sure to get more Muslim votes, especially in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.
While Muslim political outfits such as the PDP and the SDPI are taking an independent stand, Jamaat- E- Islami Hind has decided to support the CPM- led LDF. The LDF hopes that the split in Muslim votes will help firm their ground in northern Kerala.
“ The LDF government has taken several measures to help the minorities.
UDF’s hope for a consolidated Muslim vote in favour of them is far from reality. Muslim votes will split to benefit the LDF,” CPM central committee member A. Vijayaraghavan said.
But the UDF thinks that Jamaat favouring the LDF will benefit the UDF. “ We have already said we don’t want Jamaat’s vote. Such organisations are political in nature and they won’t influence voters,” IUML general secretary P. K. Kunjalikkutty told M AIL T ODAY . In Kozhikode, the UDF depends on the IUML to win the Muslim votes. “ We started our campaign stating that we don’t want the votes of fundamentals. IUML has always opposed fundamentalist trends and this is helping us to garner votes,” IUML leader M. K. Muneer said.
SDPI, the political party of the Popular Front, is also focusing the Muslim and Dalit votes.
“ We are contesting in 82 seats.
Anyone who travels across Kerala can see the presence the SDPI in this election.
We expect the votes of common people who are fed up with the policies of both the LDF and the UDF,” SDPI president K. P. Mohammed Sherif said.
The SDPI is raising issues such as Muslim reservation and implementation of Ranganath Mishra commission report in the election.
“ IUML is depending on communal votes from Sunni and Mujahid organisations. They don’t have any politics. SDPI is a political organisation committed to the welfare the minorities and Dalits,” Sherif claimed.
Abdul Nasser Madani’s PDP is also contesting the elections. The party had supported the LDF in the last Lok Sabha elections.
The presence of the SDPI and the PDP may create trouble for the UDF in southern and central Kerala.
–Agencies