How LDF is looking to capitalise on anti-CAA resentment among Muslims in Kerala

Around 8.8 million Muslims in Kerala, play an active role in democratic processes and have assumed a pivotal role in defining the electoral arithmetic of the state.

The issue of Citizenship (Amendment) Act has snowballed into a major political issue in the Malabar region of kerala ahead of the general election. CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) reportedly believes that it can tap the growing disenchantment among the Muslim community regarding the CAA.

The ruling CPI(M)-led LDF has come out with a firm stand against CAA. While Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has categorically stated that Kerala will not implement CAA, the Cabinet on Wednesday entrusted the Advocate General to take all measures to fight the legal battle in the Supreme Court.

Congress questions LDF’s sincerity

Congress is questioning the sincerity of the CPI(M) in opposing the CAA, while publishing data to show that LDF government had not withdrawn cases against those who protested against the CAA across the state in 2019. Party leaders claim that of the 800-odd cases registered in 2019, only 63 had been withdrawn though the Chief Minister had promised to revoke all the non-serious cases in 2021.

Political observers have tw0-fold understanding of the developments in Kerala-- firstly they view it as a  bid to get an upper hand on the issue and  attempt to woo a chunk of voters from the Muslim community towards the LDF.

LDF makes its position clear

In Kannur, LDF convener E.P. Jayarajan said the BJP’s attempt to insert religion as a criterion for citizenship ran against the Constitution’s basic structure. CAA’s enforcement would have undesirable consequences for Muslim families in Kasaragod and Kannur.

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan had raised questions on the role of Congress and its leaders including Rahul Gandhi and had alleged that the grand old party and its National President Mallikarjun Kharge were yet to comment on the recent notification of the CAA’s rules.

Also Read: CAA notification: Opposition calls it attempt to polarise LS polls; BJP says Modi's 'guarantee' fulfilled

Why Muslim voters matter to political groups in Kerala

Around 8.8 million Muslims in Kerala, constituting 27% of the total state population, play an active role in democratic processes and have assumed a pivotal role in defining the electoral arithmetic of the state.

The community has been instrumental in shaping the contours of the coalition politics of Kerala, which revolve around the Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF) and the CPI(M)-led Left Democratic Front (LDF) for the past several decades.

The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) has positioned itself as the traditional Muslim representative, claiming the over-whelming support of Muslims in the state.

The CAA was passed in December 2019 and subsequently got the President’s assent, but there were protests in several parts of the country against it, with many opposition parties speaking out against the law, calling it “discriminatory”.

The Act grants citizenship to undocumented migrants of all religions — except Muslims — from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan who arrived in India before December 31, 2014.

Why regional outfits view CAA as a polarizing issue?

Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) leader Panakkad Sadikali Shihab Thangal said the BJP had pulled off a deeply schismatic election stunt to polarise the electorate into religious lines ahead of the LS polls. Mr. Thangal said the Union government had enforced the law even as the apex court was hearing multiple pleas against the enactment.