For polls, girls not in males’s league in IUML

Express News Service
KOZHIKODE: The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is a 72-year-old get together with a powerful presence in Kerala. However, the second-largest UDF ally has by no means had a girl consultant within the meeting. The cause is straightforward — It has hardly fielded girls within the meeting elections. It did so as soon as in 1996, however its candidate Kamarunnisa Anwar, who contested from Kozhikode-II, misplaced to CPM’s Elamaram Kareen by 8,766 votes. 

Though girl leaders from IUML contest within the native physique elections (the get together has no alternative in seats reserved for girls) , there’s a strict ‘no’ for them contesting within the meeting and parliament elections on the get together’s ticket. 

Though the Indian Union Women’s League (IUWL), the girl’s wing of the get together, calls for illustration throughout each meeting election, it’s by no means met. IUWL state chief P Kulsu stated issues would change this time. “This time, we will have representation. It is not about who are contesting or in how many seats, but that women are contesting on the ladder symbol,” stated a hopeful Kulsu. IUWL nationwide normal secretary Noorbina Rasheed too is hopeful. 

There are apprehensions. Okay P Mariyumma, 65, one of many founder members of IUWL, says such optimism stays until the announcement of candidates. “The reason for IUML hardly having any woman candidates is that it gets less than 30 seats as part of coalition rule. Several male aspirants work for the party 24×7. So, while trimming the list, women are the first casualty,” stated Mariyumma, who was the primary district panchayat president of Malappuram in 1995. 

MSF nationwide vice-president Fathima Tahiliya stated in addition to IUWL, Haritha, the lady college students’ wing of IUML, had additionally approached the get together looking for seats for girls. “Several unmarried girls contested in the local body polls from IUML. That was a major change,” she stated. Mariyumma stated issues are altering as three girls — Kamarunnisa and Noorbina and herself — grew to become IUML’s state secretariat members for the primary time. 

Though neither IUML nor IUWL leaders say it overtly, the opposition by non secular physique Samastha is usually stated to be the largest impediment in fielding girls. Sunni Yuvajana Sangham state secretary Samad Pookottur not too long ago stated girls ought to be fielded solely in unavoidable circumstances. “There is no need for IUML to field women in seats where there is no women reservation,” had been his phrases. Samastha has not formally responded both to girls’s candidature or Pookottur’s remarks.

IUML nationwide working secretary E T Mohammed Basheer, MP, stated girls’s illustration is all people’s want and such a requirement has been raised this time. “Let us first know which seats we will contest and we will look into accommodating woman candidates in appropriate ones,” he informed TNIE.