Inadequate representation irks section of Muslims

KOZHIKODE: Discontent is brewing among a section of the Muslim community over the ‘inadequate representation’ it received in the candidate list of both the LDF and the UDF for the Lok Sabha elections.


An article that appeared in Suprabhatham daily, managed by the Samastha Kerala Jem-Iyyathul Ulema, expressed dismay over the indifferent attitude of both the Fronts towards the Muslim community.

The article says that the Muslims , who constitute 26.56% of the population in the state, were given four seats by both Fronts while the Christian community, which constitutes only 18.38% of the population, got four candidates from the LDF and five from the UDF respectively.

“There is strong displeasure in the community over what has been meted out to them. This has been the case in previous elections and we expected a change this time around. But we have been given the same treatment again,” said Musthafa Mundupara, state secretary of Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), a feeder organization of Samastha.

The SYS has strong reservation for not giving sufficient opportunity to the Muslim community to elect representatives from them at a time when crucial issues such as triple talaq and sharia are pending for the consideration of Lok Sabha.

“Though both Fronts have given same consideration for the Muslim community it is the UDF that gave winnable seats to Muslims,” said the article. Malappuram, Ponnani and Wayanad are the strongholds of the UDF while the Front has a good chance of winning in Alappuzha where Shanimol Usman is contesting. Among the four seats allotted to the community by the LDF, there is remote chance for their candidates to win except in Alappuzha, it added.

Some Muslim organizations had put pressure on the IUML to bargain for one more seat, but the move failed to materialize. IUML had to satisfy with its traditional seats in Malappuram and Ponnani. But these organizations have succeeded in preventing ‘outsiders’ taking over the Wayanad seat and preserving it for Congress leader T Siddique.