Peoples Democratic Party chairman Abdul Nasser Madani has once again become a rallying point in Kerala politics. At his daughters wedding in Kollam on Sunday,prominent leaders of the UDF and the LDF were seen jostling for a toehold at the dais even as Madani was being taken on a wheel-chair. An undertrial in the 2008 Bangalore blasts case,he is on a five-day bail to attend the wedding. CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan was seated next to Madani when he was addressing the marriage gathering. In 2009,Vijayan was criticised for sharing dais with Madani during the general election campaign. Though no state ministers attended the function,Union minister K C Venugopal and Kodikunnil Suresh were seen. The CPI,which had opposed the LDF proximity to Madani during 2009 elections,was represented by its C Divakaran. He was found standing behind Madani on the dais. The last Madani event that had brought all politicians on a single stage was the reception accorded to him in 2007 after he was acquitted in the Coimbatore blast case. Since his arrest in the Bangalore case,Muslim fringe outfits one after another has made Madani a symbol of justice denied. His flagging health and the alleged failure of the Karnataka government to ensure best medical care forced more organizations to take up Madanis cause. Even the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) which is politically opposed to Madani exerted pressure on the state government to rush health care for him. This move spurred more parties to jump into the fray. Both the LDF and the UDF want to make electoral windfall by capitalising on Madani sentiment. A jailed Madani has been the best weapon for both fronts to create an impression that Muslims are prey and the government machinery is hunting the community. Madanis comments against the legal system in Karnataka clearly indicate that he wants to build the image of a prey, said BJP state secretary K Surendran. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary T Siddique said it is sympathy for Madani that has led to steady flow of political leaders for his daughters marriage. Many think that sharing dais with him at this juncture would help them win votes,said Siddique who did not attend the event.
