IUML smashes Malabar stereotype; tally 220 in southern local bodies
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Shattering the long-held perception of being a Muslim-Malabar-only party, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has recorded a remarkable breakthrough across the seven southern districts, winning over 30 key positions in local bodies. The party now holds the chairperson post in four municipalities, vice-chairperson post in six municipalities, and nine president posts and over 15 vice-president posts in panchayats. Overall, 220 IUML representatives have been elected to various local bodies in Idukki, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Kollam and Thiruvananthapuram districts, giving the party a strike rate of 79% in the region. This is the first time the League has demonstrated such electoral strength beyond its traditional Malabar base. Even earlier, we had some representation in the southern districts but our organisational strength wasnt adequate, IUML state general secretary PMA Salam said. This time, we strengthened the leadership, energised the organisation, and reworked our policy and approach, he said. IUML state secretary Mohammed Shah said the party has now gained recognition beyond its traditional support base, among the non-Muslim secular sections in society. We directly contested against SDPI in many local bodies, including in Idukki and Kottayam districts, and defeated them. People have acknowledged this, he said. The party has secured a total of 53,69,745 votes in the local body elections across the state, accounting for 9.77% of the vote share. Political observers attribute the Leagues success partly to Muslim consolidation in favour of the UDF, coupled with informal understanding between the UDF and the Jamaat-e-Islami, which directly contributed to the leagues unprecedented victory in these regions. These local body election results showed that the Muslim consolidation against the LDF has completed a full circle. The Jamaat-e-Islami factor prompted the non-UDF Muslim voters to vote for the League and also helped neutralise the SDPI factor in several places, a UDF leader said. The weakening of the PDP in the southern districts is also seen as a contributing factor. N Sree Kumar, a former Resident Editor of Veekshanam Daily, the Congress organ, said Congress willingness to share winnable seats with allies after a decade in opposition has reshaped coalition dynamics. V D Satheesan is the architect of this. He is reshaping UDF as a common platform for secular political parties, left-leaning individuals, and other organisations where everyone will have a space to share, he said. RSP state secretary Shibu Baby John noted that the Leagues victory in the south proves that it enjoys non-Muslim support as well. Kerala Congress (J) chairman P J Joseph added that a strengthened organisation and cordial relationship within the UDF have clearly benefited the League.
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