Jihadi organisation extends support to 2 Muslim candidates of UDF and 18 LDF candidates

Jamaat to back UDF in two seats

PNS | Kozhikode

The
Kerala chapter of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind on Thursday decided to support
the candidates of Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) in Ponnani
and Wayanad constituencies in the April 16 Lok Sabha elections in the
State. In the remaining 18 seats in the State, the organisation would
support the Left Democratic Front (LDF) candidates. In the 2006
Assembly elections, the Jamaat had supported the LDF in all the 140
seats in the State.

At the same time, the Jamaat would mount
intense opposition against Shashi Tharoor and KV Thomas, the Congress
candidates in Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam respectively for their
alleged, “proven” pro-Israeli stand. Although the organisation would
support the UDF for two seats and LDF for 16 seats, it would not do
campaigning or open electoral work anywhere in the State. It is to be
noted that the organisation had immense influence in three
constituencies of Malabar and also in Ernakulam.

Announcing the
decision of the outfit, Jamaat-e-Islami Kerala, Amir T Arifali said
that strong candidates should win to get deserving representation for
the minorities, especially the Muslims, in Government as well as in
employment.

“In accordance with this perspective, the State
consultative committee of the organisation decided to support
candidates of LDF in 16 seats while backing two UDF candidates,” he
said.

However, the Jamaat did not hold good opinion about
Hussein Randathani, an LDF Independent candidate nominated by Abdul
Nasser Madani in Muslim-majority constituency of Ponnani, due to
several reasons. It was of the opinion that the LDF had tried to create
rift among the Sunni Muslims in this constituency.

Randathani
was known as a theoretician of the Sunni sect led by Kanthapuram AP
Aboobacker Musliar and his candidature would isolate the other Sunnis,
the Jamaat felt. Also, it was of the opinion that UDF candidate ET
Muhammad Basheer of the Muslim league was a leader who would be more
efficient in representing the minority cause in the State.

At
the same time, the organisation would support UDF candidate MI Shanavas
of the Congress in Wayanad seat. In all other seats the Jamaat would be
supporting the LDF candidates. The organisation had long way back made
it clear that it would not support any one front throughout the State
but would decide on the support on the basis of the “anti-imperialist
and secular” credentials and efficiency of the candidate.

Though
the organisation generally shared the sentiments of the Left, the
decision this time to support was based on the credentials of the
candidates, Arifali said. However, the Jamaat position on two UDF
candidates in the capital seat and Ernakulam, both of the Congress, had
been clear, right from the beginning. The outfit would not vote for or
support Shashi Tharoor and KV Thomas in the context of the allegation
that both these candidates were pro-imperialist and pro-Israel.

State
Congress president Ramesh Chennithala had secretly met Jamaat leaders
on March 25 in Kozhikode to request support, but they had not given any
commitment. Though Chennithala had at first denied any such meeting,
Jamaat Kerala Amir T Arfali readily confirmed it.

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