The importance of the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala

The importance of the Indian Union Muslim League in Kerala

Written by Shajahan Madampat |Updated: April 11, 2019 10:39:45 am

Madampat is a cultural critic and commentator writing in English and Malayalam.

The importance of IUML

Indian Union Muslim League’s politics, with Malayali characteristics, has created a language for articulating the legitimate demands of a religious minority without alienating other segments of society.

‘The IUML has been downright conservative, often illiberal, sometimes corrupt, some other times opportunistic, but never communal.’ (Illustration by C R Sasikumar)

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is in the news following Rahul Gandhi’s decision to contest from the Wayanad constituency, a stronghold of the party. Yogi Adityanath dubbed the League “a virus” sure to infect the rest of the country if the Congress wins. The decision also occasioned an unabashedly communal comment from the prime minister, who described Wayanad as a constituency where the majority is in a minority. Interestingly, statements from the Left, which is likely to face a major setback because of Rahul’s foray into Kerala, reflected an uncanny resemblance to the Sangh Parivar’s vitriol.