Kerala Muslims are in high demands for the 2026 state assembly polls. In 2024 parliament elections, Muslims voted in favour of Congress-led UDF and they swept the election.
This tale has nothing much to do with the BJP because in the southern most state, the CPI-M-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) was at the receiving end.
The communists could retain power in 2021 assembly elections making a record and hence come 2026, the Left and Congress differences are to 'increase' further.
For a change now --
Leaders of both the CPI(M) and the BJP have raised concerns over Multi-Exercise Combination (MEC 7) being allegedly "infiltrated by radical elements".
The Muslim organisers and the Congress have rubbished the claims.
Some Muslim organisations too have linked MEC 7 to banned Islamist groups.
MEC-7 is a "fitness programme in Kerala", as they put it. But there are claims that the banned Popular Front of India (PFI) and Jama'at-e-Islami were using its over 1,000 units to spread radicalism.
After the ban on PFI Muslim community is gradually shifting towards Congress in Kerala. Moreover, Congress decision to field Priyanka Gandhi Vadra in Muslim-stronghold Wayanad for the by-polls have made Muslims happy.
The PFI had an understanding with CPI-M in 2021 assembly election and they voted in favour of Pinarayi Vijayan -- helping to create history by retaining power. Normally every five years, Kerala throws out its government and thus the Congress-led UDF and CPI-M-led LDF shared powers every five years periodically.
But the 2021 was an exception as Pinarayi Vijayan played his part of the game pretty well and even Rahul Gandhi's jump into the water to woo the fishing community did not have expected dividends.
There are other key developments too. After the ban on PFI, Muslims have a grudge against the ruling communists and they apprehend (or even realise) that Kerala police under Vijayan were operating in tandem with the NIA -- which reports to the Home Minister Amit Shah and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Delhi.
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The accusation that the MEC 7 operates through WhatsApp groups, with PFI leaders as admins, has brought Kerala's ruling CPI(M) and the opposition BJP onto the same platform.
But it is also a fact that some Muslim organisations, especially Sunni outfits, have linked MEC 7 to the banned PFI and the Jama'at-e-Islami.
It is also understood that the Marxsts have started developing differences with the Jama'at-e-Islami.
Investigations in various cases have revealed that the PFI and its cadres have been repeatedly engaging in violent and subversive acts.
The MEC 7 currently operates through over 1,000 units across northern Kerala, especially in Malappuram and Kozhikode districts.
The MEC 7 is a combination of 21 exercises from yoga, aerobics, physiotherapy, deep breathing, acupuncture, meditation and massage, according to a report in Mathrubhumi, the Kozhikode-based daily. The 30-minute exercise programme was started by a retired CISF officer in 2012.
The Union Home Ministry had in September 2022 banned PFI and eight of its associates for five years over threats to security and terror links.
Additional DGP Ajith Kumar, who is close to the Chief Minister Pinarayi. was practically on a witchhunt against PFI sleeper cells and gold smuggling network.
This has irritated Malabar Muslims.
ends
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