We set laws in Kerala: Muslim League raises provocative slogans after CM pick
Muslim League's procession celebrating VD Satheesan's elevation as Kerala Chief Minister featured provocative slogans, also targeting caste organisation leaders.
The Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) in Kerala courted controversy after a celebratory procession held following the announcement of VD Satheesan as Chief Minister featured provocative slogans. The march, organised by the Congress ally in Idukki district, saw slogans such as, “In Kerala land where the League rules, it is the League that decides the laws,” along with abusive remarks targeting leaders of caste organisations.
The sloganeering, which initially hailed Satheesan, later turned sharper, directly targeting Nair Service Society (NSS) chief Sukumaran Nair and Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam general secretary Vellappally Natesan.
"Who is this Vellappally? Who is this Sukumaran? Look closely, this is the League, Panakkad’s League," the workers shouted. They also used abusive language against Vellappally Nateshan, who had targeted the party in harsh language in the run-up to the polls.
Some of the chants also declared that "self-respect and existence cannot be mortgaged before anyone."
The Muslim League, which has 22 MLAs in the 140-member Assembly and is the second-largest party in the Congress-led UDF, had publicly backed Satheesan even before the Congress high command took a final decision on the Chief Ministerial post between Satheesan, KC Venugopal and Ramesh Chennithala.
The CPI(M) and the BJP have repeatedly alleged that the Congress in Kerala functions under the influence of the Muslim League and follows its political agenda.
Satheesan, however, was not the preferred choice of sections within the NSS and SNDP leadership and had publicly opposed their stance on several occasions. The slogans raised during the march were seen as a reflection of that political friction.
Following the controversy, the Muslim Youth League reportedly suspended its Idukki district committee.
After 10 days of intense deliberations and suspense, the Congress on Thursday announced VD Satheesan, the outgoing Leader of the Opposition, as Kerala’s next Chief Minister.
The BJP alleged that Kerala would now effectively be governed by the IUML over the next five years.
BJP state president Rajeev Chandrasekhar claimed that Satheesan’s elevation to the Chief Minister’s post was influenced by the Muslim League and Jamaat-e-Islami, which he described as a political Islamist outfit.
The BJP also shared multiple memes on its official social media handles targeting the Congress and the IUML leadership.