Muslim League Reaffirms Support for Jamaat-e-Islami, Signals Continued UDF Alliance

Thiruvananthapuram: The Muslim League has once again defended Jamaat-e-Islami, an organization often described as advocating a theocratic ideology. The justification was made by Panakkad Munavvar Ali Thangal, All India Secretary of the Muslim League, who said that Jamaat-e-Islami would continue to be included and supported. His statement is seen as a clear indication that the alliance formed between the UDF and Jamaat-e-Islami in recent elections will continue strongly in the upcoming Assembly elections as well. Earlier, Leader of the Opposition V D Satheesan had also defended Jamaat-e-Islami during the Nilambur by-election.

An election strategy that accommodates communal and extremist organizations has been gaining strength within the UDF for some time. Jamaat-e-Islami was aligned with the UDF in the 2016 and 2021 Assembly elections as well as in Lok Sabha elections. During the Nilambur by-election, the UDF entered into an open alliance with Jamaat-e-Islami. At that time, V D Satheesan told the media in Nilambur that Jamaat-e-Islami was no longer an extremist organization as it had been in the past.

Meanwhile, several Muslim organizations remain unwilling to accept Jamaat-e-Islami. Both factions of Samastha—the EK and AP groups—have taken a similar stand on the issue. Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar stated that Jamaat-e-Islami continues to uphold the concept of an Islamic Republic. He added that no one has so far claimed that the organization has changed its ideology. Religious leaders including Mukkam Umar Faizy have also come out strongly against Jamaat-e-Islami.