Kerala's Culture Minister Saji Cherian issued a clarification on Monday regarding his recent controversial statements about elected representatives from Malappuram and Kasaragod districts. He asserted that his remarks had been distorted and taken out of context.
Minister Defends His Observations as Factual
Cherian maintained that his comments were based on factual observations. He aimed to highlight a growing trend of communal polarization in electoral politics across the state. The minister clarified his position by stating he merely pointed out that the Muslim League tends to dominate in Muslim-majority areas, while the BJP leads in Hindu-majority regions.
"My intention was to caution against such polarization and to prevent its spread elsewhere in Kerala," Cherian explained. He added that communalism promoted by the RSS cannot be effectively countered by what he described as minority communalism.
Pointing to Kasaragod Municipality Results
To support his argument, the minister referenced the recent Kasaragod municipality elections. He noted that out of 39 seats, parties advocating secularism secured only a minimal presence.
- Congress won just two seats.
- The Left managed to secure only one seat.
- BJP, which openly engages in communal politics according to Cherian, won 12 seats.
- IUML secured 22 seats.
Cherian stressed that he simply read out the names of elected representatives to underline his point about communal voting patterns.
IUML Strongly Rejects Allegations
Reacting strongly to the minister's comments, IUML national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty dismissed the allegations as unfounded. He stated that communal polarization has never been the League's objective.
Kunhalikutty accused Cherian of running a targeted campaign against a particular community. He claimed no one had displayed such "extreme communalism" in recent times as the minister.
Highlighting Diversity Within IUML
The IUML leader pointed to a meeting of party representatives elected from southern Kerala that took place in Kollam on Monday. "A look at their names itself reflects the diversity within the League," Kunhalikutty stated.
He emphasized that people from all religious communities have been elected on the League's ticket. Kunhalikutty suggested such statements from the minister stem from a lack of confidence within the Left government.
Questioning Left's Political Strategies
Kunhalikutty further questioned the Left's shifting political strategies in Kerala. He asserted that such tactics would not succeed in the state's political landscape.
The IUML leader reiterated the position expressed by party state president Panakkad Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal. He confirmed that the League does not believe in creating communal polarization for electoral gains.
The exchange highlights ongoing tensions in Kerala's political discourse regarding communal voting patterns and electoral strategies. Both sides have firmly stated their positions, with the minister defending his observations as factual warnings and the IUML rejecting them as politically motivated allegations.
