Unholy Alliance: Congress Clutches at Communal Straws in Nilambur

With panic spreading through UDF ranks like wildfire, the Congress has pulled off yet another spectacular political somersault, this time, by joining hands with none other than the Jamaat -e -Islami- backed Welfare Party. The stage: Nilambur by-election. The reason: CPI M’s rising tide, with M Swaraj emerging as a crowd -puller even across ideological lines. The Congress, visibly shaken, has chosen to lean on communal crutches rather than stand on a political spine.
At a time when CPI M leaders like M Swaraj openly declare they do not seek the votes of communal propagators, and yet are open to anyone who genuinely embraces democratic, secular values, the UDF seems to have gone bargain-hunting in the ideological flea market.
And it gets better, Opposition Leader V D Satheesan, in a press conference, solemnly declared that Jamaat -e- Islami is “neither communal nor religious nationalist.” In fact, he found no issue with their support, claiming the group had already backed the UDF in all 20 Lok Sabha constituencies. Apparently, according to Satheesan’s new political dictionary, even a group globally known for advocating religious nationalism can be repackaged as “harmless well-wishers” if the electoral math demands it.
Jamaat -e -Islami’s political wing, the Welfare Party, didn’t waste time. They pledged full support to the Congress candidate in Nilambur, and in a bonus move, announced plans to join UDF panchayat campaigns and even expect seats. Yes, that’s right, seats for sale in the secular showroom.
The CPI M, meanwhile, has minced no words. State Secretary M V Govindan declared the alliance as a clear admission of ideological bankruptcy. “The UDF has officially become an alliance of communal forces,” he said, comparing Jamaat e -Islami to the RSS in its extremist ideological nature. “They’ve lost the moral right to utter the word communalism.”
To those grasping at straws to equate PDP with Jamaat- e -Islami, Govindan drew the line sharply: “PDP never asked for an Islamic nation. Jamaat did. There is no comparison.”
Elamaram Kareem too didn’t hold back. He bluntly stated that Jamaat-e-Islami promotes ideologies that have historically enabled terrorism. Even Sunni Yuvajana Sangham, a major youth organisation in North Kerala, expressed alarm, calling the alliance ridiculous, especially since Congress candidate Aryadan Shoukath had earlier likened Jamaat-e-Islami to ISIS. Apparently, memory is the first casualty in an election season.

But the drama didn’t stop there.
In a classic case of political theatre, the Congress leapt onto the tragedy of 15- year -old Ananthu aka Jithu’s death in Vazhikkadavu three days before. Instead of extending genuine solidarity, the party staged a full-blown street protest within hours, faster than most people even heard of the incident. Roadblocks, police clashes, media noise, everything in place, except facts.What was conveniently omitted from their high-pitched accusations against the government? That the trap which killed the boy was allegedly set by a Congress worker. Yes, the script had a plot twist Congress forgot to edit.
Facebook posts started flying, especially from Congress General Secretary Jyothikumar Chamakkala, framing the tragedy as a chilling time with friends. But no explanation came as to how Congress foot- soldiers reached the protest ground even before the news hit the local panchayat WhatsApp groups. Were they mourning or rehearsing?
And where were these street -fighters two months ago, when another Congress worker, Puthanveetil Ramakrishnan (Kunjoottan), died in a similar electric trap in Putharippadam? No headlines, no roadblocks, no hashtags. That time, there was no by-election to win, only a life lost, not worth a vote.
Now, Congress sheds crocodile tears, ignoring that the land where the trap was found was private, the forest department denies any electric fencing, and KSEB knew nothing of any illegal line. But never mind that. When the electoral jackpot is at stake, who needs facts?
From striking unholy pacts with groups they once accused of extremism, to staging moral outrage over tragedies allegedly linked to their own cadre, Congress seems to be proving one thing clearly in Nilambur: when defeat stares them in the face, they'll do whatever it takes, shake hands with anyone, spin any tragedy, and bury any contradiction.
June 19 will not just be a by-election. It will be a litmus test, on whether Kerala's voters will bless this dangerous dance with communal opportunism, or reject it outright.