Latest news with #Jamaat-e-Islami-backed
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
Political row continues in Kerala over Jamaat-e-Islami support for UDF in Nilambur by-poll
He said that such a clarification from her and the Congress leadership was important in view of the secular stand taken by her party, mother Sonia Gandhi and brother Rahul Gandhi. CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan, speaking to reporters here, said that Vadra, who was coming to campaign for the Congress candidate in the Nilambur assembly by-poll, was obligated to tell the people about her stand with regard to her party's alleged ties with the Jamaat-e-Islami. Malappuram(Kerala), Jun 12 (PTI) The political row over the Jamaat-e-Islami's support for the Congress-led UDF continued in Kerala with the ruling CPI(M) on Thursday seeking a clarification on the matter from Congress general secretary and Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. Meanwhile, Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) chief Sunny Joseph said that the UDF will accept all the support offered to it in order to win the Nilambur by-poll as it is a political fight against the LDF's allegedly anti-people policies. The issue had sparked heated exchanges on June 10 and escalated further on Wednesday as leaders from the CPI(M), Congress, and BJP traded barbs over past alliances and national security concerns. The controversy centers on whether secular parties should accept the backing of organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Welfare Party and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), led by controversial cleric Abdul Nasar Madani. While the Welfare Party has backed the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the Nilambur by-poll, the CPI(M) headed-Left Democratic Front (LDF) enjoys the support of the PDP. The BJP has alleged that both the Congress and the CPI(M) were compromising the nation's security by aligning with Jamaat-e-Islami and the PDP. The row erupted after the Welfare Party announced support for UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath in the June 19 Nilambur bypoll, calling it a chance for voters to respond to nine years of what it sees as damaging Left rule in Kerala. PTI HMP HMP ROH This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Row deepens over Jamaat-e-Islami support for Cong-led UDF in Nilambur bypoll
A political controversy has erupted in Kerala over Jamaat-e-Islami's backing of the Congress-led UDF in the Nilambur bypoll, triggering accusations and counter-accusations between the CPI(M), Congress, and BJP. The BJP alleges that both Congress and CPI(M) are compromising national security for electoral gains by aligning with Jamaat-e-Islami and the PDP. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads A political storm continues to brew in Kerala over Jamaat-e-Islami 's support for the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in the upcoming Nilambur bypoll The issue, which sparked heated exchanges on June 10, escalated further on Wednesday as leaders from the CPI(M), Congress, and BJP traded barbs over past alliances and national security controversy centers on whether secular parties should accept the backing of organisations like Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Welfare Party and the People's Democratic Party (PDP), led by controversial cleric Abdul Nasar the Congress and CPI(M) sought to defend or distance themselves from the support, the BJP accused both of compromising national interest for electoral Congress leader K Muraleedharan countered that Jamaat-e-Islami had supported the Left from 1996 to 2019 through its political wing, the Welfare Party. He said the shift to the UDF in 2019 reflected the group's national decision to support the Congress."Calling them progressive when they support the Left and communal when they support the UDF is unfair," he said. He also took a dig at the CPI(M), citing its historical reluctance to accept Indian added that the UDF had opposed Madani's detention without trial, and PDP's current alliance with the Left was their independent BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar alleged that both Congress and the CPI(M) were compromising the nation's security by aligning with Jamaat-e-Islami and the PDP."This shows how desperate they are to grab power," he said, accusing Jamaat-e-Islami of making repeated anti-national statements and linking Madani to terror-related cases."This opportunistic politics is dangerous. It's giving divisive forces a formal role and a gateway to power in Kerala," Chandrasekhar told PTI Kerala state secretary M V Govindan said the Left party has never had a political alliance with clarified that while the group has occasionally supported individual Left candidates, no formal tie-up was ever also reaffirmed the CPI(M)'s view that the PDP represents the marginalised. He described Madani as a rare political leader who had faced prolonged Tuesday, Govindan had alleged that the support extended by the Welfare party for the UDF candidate reflected a continuing communal trend in the Congress-led alliance in the president and MLA Sunny Joseph hit back at CPI(M)'s criticism of the Welfare Party's support for the UDF in the Nilambur accused the CPI(M) of double standards, saying the party treats every group it aligns with as "pure" and labels others as "impure."The row erupted after the Welfare Party announced support for UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath in the June 19 Nilambur bypoll, calling it a chance for voters to respond to nine years of what it sees as damaging Left rule in party accused the state government of siding with Sangh Parivar forces, suppressing protests, and ignoring the struggles of backward communities and said the bypoll result should reflect public anger against misuse of power and lack of justice.
The Print
2 days ago
- Politics
- The Print
How Nilambur bypoll in Kerala has turned into a secularism showdown between LDF & UDF
'The UDF is openly forging alliances with sectarian forces without hesitation. What began as informal cooperation has now evolved into an open political front. The CPI(M) has never aligned with any communal organisations, including Jamaat-e-Islami,' Govindan asserted Tuesday. Addressing the media in Nilambur, CPI(M) state general secretary M.V. Govindan accused the UDF of embracing 'communal forces', warning that such alliances could have a long-lasting impact on Kerala's social fabric. Thiruvananthapuram: In the run-up to the Nilambur assembly bypolls, Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) and the opposition United Democratic Front (UDF) have locked horns in Malappuram district over the support extended to latter by the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Welfare Party of India. The Nilambur bypoll was necessitated after LDF-backed Independent MLA P.V. Anvar resigned in January following a public fallout with the Left leadership. The UDF has fielded Aryadan Shoukath against CPI(M)'s M. Swaraj and Anvar, who is running as an Independent. Voting is scheduled for 19 June. Interestingly, while criticising the UDF's association with the Welfare Party, Govindan defended the support extended to the LDF candidate by the People's Democratic Party (PDP), led by controversial Islamic leader Abdul Nasar Madanil. Madani was acquitted in the 1998 Coimbatore blasts case, but remains on trial in connection with the 2008 Bangalore blasts. Govindan argued that the PDP is not a communal organisation. 'The PDP does not seek to establish an Islamic state, unlike Jamaat-e-Islami, even though it has faced persecution in Kerala,' he said. The current war of words builds on tensions that have simmered since the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in which the CPI(M)-led Left lost ground, winning just one seat. Since then, the Left has intensified its attacks on the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key UDF ally, accusing it of fostering ties with Jamaat-e-Islami and other sectarian groups. During the general election campaign, the CPI(M) had projected itself as the champion of secularism and minority rights. However, following its poor electoral performance, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and other leaders have openly accused the UDF of aligning with communal and extremist forces to defeat the Left. In response, the UDF has accused the CPI(M) of blatant double standards. 'When the Welfare Party supports the CPI(M), it's branded as secular. But when it supports the UDF, it's suddenly declared communal—that's the CPI(M)'s hypocrisy. The same party that once denounced Madani as a communalist is now gladly accepting PDP's support,' Leader of Opposition V.D. Satheesan said Tuesday, responding to Govindan. 'Moreover, the UDF has not engaged in any formal discussions with the Welfare Party.' On Monday night, Welfare Party president Razak Paleri called the upcoming bypolls a chance to send a strong message to the ruling Left. 'The state's socio-economic fabric has been severely damaged over the past nine years. The Home Department, directly controlled by the chief minister, has become an enabler of Sangh Parivar forces,' Paleri alleged. He further accused the CPI(M) of pursuing a dangerous strategy of polarisation, which he said is undermining the unity of Kerala's minority communities. 'In Malappuram, CPI(M) leaders themselves have become promoters of the Sangh Parivar's divisive politics. It was the chief minister who first accused Malappuram residents of smuggling and anti-national activities,' Paleri said. The Welfare Party has officially announced its support for UDF candidate Aryadan Shoukath, urging voters to use the bypoll to register their anger against what it called 'a misguided and divisive government'. In September last year, Pinarayi Vijayan's interview with The Hindu had courted controversy over his statement against Malappuram, the state's Muslim-dominated district. In the interview, the CM allegedly said the district was a hub of anti-national and gold smuggling activities. However, the CM's office came out openly against the interview and alleged that the statement was wrongly attributed to Vijayan. In response, the daily carried a statement saying that the comment was added upon request by a representative of a PR firm who was present at the interview. The CM, however, denied his involvement with any PR agency. (Edited by Tony Rai) Also Read: From reformist group to voice of Ezhavas, why SNDP Yogam's stock is high in Kerala politics
India Today
3 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Kerala ruling party slams Opposition for ‘communal' Welfare Party alliance
The ruling CPI(M) in Kerala hit out at the United Democratic Front (UDF) over the support of the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Welfare Party of India to the Congress-led candidate Aryadan Shoukath for the upcoming Nilambur bypolls. The CPI(M) called it an alliance with 'communal forces.'Meanwhile, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), led by Abdul Nasar Madani, has announced its support for the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) in the same the Welfare Party's support to the UDF an alliance with 'communal forces,' CPI(M) state secretary MV Govindan said, 'Jamaat-e-Islami is a communal force which is there worldwide. Their stand is that there should be a religious country. Like RSS says, they are a party which says the counterpart of that.' Justifying the CPI(M)'s acceptance of PDP support, Govindan claimed that PDP and Jamaat-e-Islami cannot be equated. 'PDP does not have such a stand,' he of Opposition VD Satheesan questioned the CPI(M)'s double standards.'When the Welfare Party gave support to the UDF in Nilambur, CPI(M) called the Jamaat-e-Islami communal. But in 2009, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had said Jamaat-e-Islami was a Muslim organisation with a clear political stand and welcomed their support.'He accused the Left of hypocrisy, saying, 'When they [Welfare Party] gave support to CPI(M), they were secular. When they support UDF, they are communal. This is their stand.'advertisementSatheesan also questioned CPI(M)'s comfort with the support of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), whose leader Abdul Nasar Madani was arrested in connection with terror cases.'The Left government's own PRD release praised the arrest and handover of Madani to Tamil Nadu police. Yet they now accept support from his party,' he Nilambur assembly seat falls under the Wayanad parliamentary constituency and will be going to polls on June 19. Wayanad MP Priyanka Gandhi will be arriving in Nilambur later this week. IN THIS STORY#Kerala
