CPI(M), Congress trade barbs over Jamaat-e-Islami backing UDF in Nilambur bypolls
As the campaign for the by-election in the Nilambur assembly constituency in Kerala enters the last lap, the two principal political fronts LDF and UDF continued to clash with each other over maintaining friendship with fringe outfits like the Jamaat-e-Islami (JeI).
The controversy in the June 19 bypoll campaign stemmed after the Welfare Party of India (WPI), the political arm of JeI, announced its support for the UDF in the bypoll last week. Since 2019, the WPI has backed the UDF in most elections.
Following the WPI's move, the CPI(M) has targeted the Congress-led UDF relentlessly for maintaining close links with 'extremist' outfits like JeI and accepting their support during election campaigns.
CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan asked the Congress national leadership to clarify if it has the same stance as the state leadership about an outfit like the JeI.
'For the first time in India, a Congress leader publicly said the current form of JeI was unlike its past and that the outfit has changed. Priyanka Gandhi is here to campaign in Nilambur. I want her to clarify if the national leadership also feels the same way about JeI. What's the Congress national leadership's stand on tying up with communal outfits like the JeI,' said Govindan.
He said the Congress would make JeI an associate partner of the UDF to garner a 'few votes' in Nilambur and in the upcoming local body and assembly elections.
Leader of Opposition VD Satheesan hit back stating that CM Pinarayi Vijayan was the first to welcome Jamaat-e-Islami leaders.
'He even said once that there was no need for anyone to cover their heads while meeting JeI leaders, indicating it was not wrong to meet them. But now, the CM has forgotten all that. He has changed his colours. The CPM's target is clear. It wants to divert the public attention away from the failures of the state government during the bypoll campaign,' he said. The Nilambur bypoll is scheduled on June 19 and the votes will be counted on June 23.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
24 minutes ago
- Time of India
Trump-Munir White House meeting signals strategic calculations amid regional tensions
Danny generated AI Image ISLAMABAD: The meeting between US President Donald J Trump and Pakistan's Chief of Army Staff, Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, at the White House on Thursday has set the geopolitical grapevine abuzz, with whispers of backroom deals that could reshape the balance of power in South Asia and far beyond. What began as a one-hour lunch in the Cabinet Room turned into a two-hour marathon meeting that continued in the Oval Office, attended by US secretary of state Marco Rubio, special representative Steve Witkoff, and Pakistan NSA and Inter-Services Intelligence chief, Lt Gen Asim Malik. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) handout flags counter-terrorism, trade, and peace, but the real stakes — against the backdrop of Iran-Israel airstrikes and India-Pakistan tensions — reveal a high-wire act with far-reaching implications. Trump, channeling his trademark deal-maker bravado, now sees Pakistan as a strategic prize. As Israel intensifies strikes on Iran's nuclear sites and Washington edges closer to military escalation, Pakistan's shared border with Iran becomes critical. Sources say Trump privately pressured Munir for airspace access and intelligence on Tehran — leveraging Pakistan's backchannel role as the host of Iran's interests section for the US. In return, he offered advanced weaponry and economic incentives, aiming to lure Islamabad away from China's orbit and Russia's Brics alliance. Trump's push to expand trade in critical minerals, cryptocurrency, AI, and energy is part of a broader strategy to anchor Pakistan within US-led markets and curb China's regional influence. He has also claimed credit for defusing the May 2025 crisis between India and Pakistan. As Pakistan's power broker, Munir brings serious leverage. His military's fight against Islamic State Khorasan (IS-K) syncs with US aims in Afghanistan. With ties to Iran and a shared border, Munir can offer covert intelligence or logistical support, though Pakistan's pro-Iran rhetoric caps public alignment. Economically, he can unlock Pakistan's mineral and tech potential for US investors, but treading too far risks Beijing's wrath. On India, Munir's role in brokering the May ceasefire – praised by President Trump – has been framed in Islamabad as a direct rebuttal of New Delhi's allegations of Pakistani involvement in cross-border terrorism. With the country facing severe economic challenges, Munir is believed to have sought US military and financial assistance to modernise Pakistan's armed forces and stabilise its economy. Trump's openness to providing drones or missile defence systems could significantly alter the military balance with India. Munir also reportedly urged Trump to de-escalate growing tensions between Iran and Israel, warning of broader regional instability and citing Pakistan's vocal alignment with Tehran. In a bold diplomatic gesture, Munir extended an invitation for Trump to visit Pakistan, an effort seen as central to reshaping bilateral ties and enhancing Islamabad's global relevance. Timed amid Middle East turmoil and South Asian friction, the Trump-Munir summit is a geopolitical pivot. It signals a fragile US-Pakistan thaw, driven by Washington's ally hunt and Pakistan's economic crunch. For India, it's a call to counter a US strategy cosying up to both rivals while eyeing Iran. Trump's deal-making and Munir's strategic charm aim to reposition Pakistan as a US cornerstone, potentially redrawing South Asia's power map at India's expense. Wednesday's White House talks weren't just diplomacy, they were a bold move in a high-stakes regional chess game.
India Today
35 minutes ago
- India Today
I stand for Congress values, will resolve differences behind closed doors: Shashi Tharoor
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has admitted to differences with the party leadership but affirmed his commitment to Congress values. He further said he was not asked to campaign for the Kerala by-poll and stated that differences would be resolved behind closed doors. Tharoor clarified that on Operation Sindoor, there was only an 'India line', not a party line. The leader's relationship with the party has been strained after he heaped praise on PM Modi for Operation Sindoor.
India Today
35 minutes ago
- India Today
Bungalow No 5, Sunehri Bagh Road: Rahul Gandhi's new address on 55th birthday
Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi moved to a new home on his 55th birthday today, his sister and Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra shared on Gandhi shared a video on Facebook which showed Rahul Gandhi's new address - Bungalow No 5, Sunehri Bagh Road, Delhi. The clip gave a glimpse of the bungalow and its Rahul Gandhi becoming the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, he is entitled to a Type 8 bungalow as he holds the rank of a Cabinet minister. According to sources, the Congress MP accepted the same as his official residence and began moving his belongings on Thursday. He is expected to start living there in the coming days ahead of the Monsoon Session of Parliament beginning on July Sunehri Bagh residence was previously occupied by BJP leader A Narayanaswamy, who served as Minister of State for Social Justice in the Narendra Modi-led government from 2021 to sources told PTI that last year the bungalow was offered to Rahul Gandhi and a response had been Gandhi had earlier resided at 12, Tughlaq Lane since becoming an MP, but vacated the property after his disqualification from the Lok Sabha in 2023 following a conviction in a defamation case. Following the disqualification, he moved into the 10, Janpath residence of his mother, Sonia Gandhi, where he continued to live even after the disqualification was PTI inputsTrending Reel IN THIS STORY#Rahul Gandhi#Delhi#Indian National Congress
