Kerala assembly polls: No consolidation of minority Muslim votes for any front

KOZHIKODE: The 2019 Parliament election, which saw the UDF sweeping even Left citadels in Malabar, was powered by a massive consolidation of minority Muslim votes in favour of it after minorities saw in Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who had made in foray in Wayanad, a bulwark against the BJP regime in Delhi. But, as the assembly election campaign wrapped up, there seems to be no such discernible one-sided consolidation of Muslim votes in Malabar in favour or against UDF or LDF.

UDF has tried to shore up its traditional support base among minorities through the whirlwind campaign tours of Rahul Gandhi in Malabar during the last two days. However, one key factor in the battle for minority votes this election has been the growing support base for LDF and particularly the chief minister among minorities due to the strident opposition taken by LDF government against the Citizenship Amendment Act.

The election campaign saw a combative Pinarayi Vijayan devoting most of his campaign speeches in Malabar to drive home the point that only LDF can protect minorities from the onslaught of Sangh Parivar forces and ensure Kerala remains an oasis of secularism.


Interestingly, he was even seen raking up the `fear factor’ by saying that BJP-ruled states have already starting building detention camps for those who did not meet CAA/ NPR requirements. Vijayan has also gone to target IUML and questioning the party’s sincerity on crucial issues concerning minorities like CAA citing the alleged statement by League candidate in Guruvayur, KNA Khader.

Among the major Muslim organizations, AP Sunni faction headed by Kanthapuram AP Aboobacker Musaliyar has publicly indicated its support for LDF.

However, UDF is likely to benefit from the decision of the Welfare Party to contest in only 19 seats as opposed to 41 seats in 2016. The party has taken the stand that it will support UDF/LDF candidates in seats where they are better poised to defeat BJP.

Asked about the support in seats where BJP is not a major factor, Welfare Party’s state president Hameed Vaniyambalam said, “In seats where BJP pose a challenge we will support the front which has the best chances of defeating that party. Regarding other seats where we are not contesting, we have conveyed the decision to the cadres to whom to support. We will not make that public.”

However, party support is likely to go the UDF way in many seats in Malabar given the party’s strident opposition to many policies of the LDF government. CPM had raised the allegation of a secret understanding between UDF and Welfare Party in assembly polls saying that the party has not fielded candidates in many constituencies in Kozhikode and Malappuram where it had influence. Meanwhile, IUML thinks that its traditional support base among EK Sunni faction remains unshaken though CPM has been trying to warm up to a section of Samastha leaders.