In a significant political development, the Communist Party of India (Marxist) [CPI(M)] State secretariat announced on Friday that the Opposition, the United Democratic Front (UDF), appears to be “weakened” and is actively seeking support from Muslim fundamentalist groups, notably the Jamaat-e-Islami Hind. The CPI(M) views this as a desperate attempt to boost its declining electoral prospects ahead of crucial local body polls this year and the 2026 Assembly elections.
During a press conference, CPI(M) State secretary M.V. Govindan highlighted that the recent campaign posters from the Solidarity Youth Movement (SYM), an organization linked to Jamaat-e-Islami, prominently feature “extreme Islamist iconography.” He argued that this imagery directly contradicts Leader of the Opposition V.D. Satheesan’s assertion that the “fundamentalist and regressive” group had abandoned its ambition to establish a Muslim theocratic state in India.
Controversial Icons and Revivalist Agendas
Govindan pointed out that Islamist ideologue Syed Abdul Ala Maududi and Muslim Brotherhood leader Yusul-al-Qardavi, now being promoted as SYM’s key figures, championed pan-Islamism and a deeply conservative interpretation of Islamic law and values. He stressed that the ideologies of both leaders fundamentally oppose the principles of secularism, democracy, pluralism, and religious tolerance. According to Govindan, the SYM has relaunched its “revanchist Islamic revivalism” agenda in Kerala, likely aiming to attract Muslim voters, particularly the youth, for the UDF.
Furthermore, Govindan claimed that the SYM appears to be operating with the implicit approval of the Indian Union Muslim League’s (IUML) present leadership. He noted that the IUML has increasingly moved away from its traditionally progressive and reformist stance, embracing a more entrenched and conservative ideology.
Govindan warned that if the SYM succeeds in advancing Jamaat-e-Islami’s vision for an “Islamic nation” in India, it would inadvertently empower the Sangh Parivar’s parallel agenda. This, he argued, would accelerate the creation of an oppressive Hindu casteist theocracy, threatening India’s foundational secular and pluralistic political landscape.
A Dangerous Nexus: Communalism’s Threat to Kerala
He elaborated, “Jamaat-e-Islami and the Sangh Parivar, despite their apparent differences, share a symbiotic relationship. Both organizations aim to fragment society along religious lines, fostering distrust for their respective political gains. This dangerous policy of segregating people communally spells trouble for Kerala. The CPI(M) is committed to mobilizing public opinion to resist these attempts at communal division within the state.”
In a separate critique, Govindan also condemned Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat’s perceived attempt to “usurp” Mahatma Gandhi’s political legacy. He accused Bhagwat of trying to elevate the founding father’s image to obscure the fact that Gandhi was a victim of a Hindu majoritarian murder conspiracy.