BEHIND THE CPI (M)-led LDF’s thumping win within the Kerala polls, there may be additionally a transparent shift of two minority communities, Muslims and Christians, who was once historically the spine of Congress-led UDF. Both communities have completely different causes to rally behind the CPI (M), abandoning the Congress.
After the anti-CAA protest of 2019, the Muslim group received nearer to the CPI (M) because the celebration received recognized because the power to tackle the BJP. The prompt response of the CPI (M) in Kerala – a human chain in opposition to the CAA and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan’s announcement that the amended citizenship regulation wouldn’t be carried out in Kerala – discovered favour with pro-IUML Muslim organisations. In the run-up to the elections, Vijayan reiterated that Kerala wouldn’t implement the CAA.
Also, the BJP manifesto in a number of methods was a reason behind concern within the Muslim group. It promised a regulation in opposition to “love jihad”, and authorities eye on overseas remittance and spiritual organisations to “prevent extremism”. The celebration mobilised a battery of senior leaders from exterior the state to marketing campaign on a powerful Hindutva agenda.
Senior BJP chief Kummanam Rajasekharan declared that the celebration would convert Nemom – the lone seat it held within the earlier meeting – to Gujarat. While the Congress remained silent, a reassurance got here from Vijayan, who mentioned the LDF would shut the BJP’s Nemom account as properly.
The Left’s confidence transformed into votes locally– because the election outcomes present. In constituencies similar to Nemom and Kazhakkoottam, the place the BJP was comfortably positioned, Muslim voters rallied behind the CPI (M), resulting in the LDF successful these two seats.
In Kottayam’s Poonjar seat, the Muslim group’s selection was LDF as properly, in opposition to sitting legislator P C George, who misplaced favour due to his anti-Muslim statements. The Muslim group right here had historically stood with the UDF – George had been a part of UDF for a number of a long time. But when it got here to defeating the legislator who as soon as strayed into the NDA camp, the selection was clearly not the UDF. The Congress completed third in Poonjar.
In Thiruvananthapuram central, the place the BJP put up a powerful struggle, the Muslims’ selection was not Congress strongman V S Sivakumar, however lesser identified LDF candidate Antony Raju, who emerged as a shock winner.
In IUML base Malappuram, the LDF retained the 4 seats it bagged final time. Besides, it introduced down the margin of the IUML in a number of seats.
The Christian group alternatively had a separate purpose to lean in the direction of the Left. A large chunk of votes, significantly Catholic, in central Kerala districts of Idukki, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta went to the LDF as a mark of protest in the direction of the rising affect of IUML within the UDF.
The Congress confronted this election at a time a rift between Muslims and Christians grew deeper over sharing of quota in minority welfare schemes. The Church had been essential of the IUML calling the photographs within the UDF and feared that if the UDF returned to energy it will have an effect on the pursuits of Christians.
The resignation of senior IUML chief P Okay Kunhalikutty as MP to contest within the state polls added gasoline to that debate. Also, IUML bonhomie with Jamaat-e-Islami was a purpose for the Church to disengage with the UDF.
The BJP additionally stepped in with its marketing campaign in opposition to “love jihad”, to drive a wedge between the 2 communities that after stood with the Congress. In Kozhikode district, the UDF misplaced one in every of its most secure seats Thiruvambadi to the CPI (M) as a fallout of the Catholic group’s bitterness with the IUML.
Vijayan’s gestures to Christians included the appointment of a panel to review the group’s socio-economic situation and inclusion of convents and such spiritual communities inside the ambit of subsidised ration system.