Bastion bristles at IUML ‘pro-US’ stand

“America is not a suitable partner for us. They had killed Saddam and have always supported the anti-Islamic stand of Israel,” says Ummer, a fisherman.

“Confusion prevails at the grassroots level over IUML’s stand on the issue. Many feel that party has not made up its mind, though the general trend in the past elections had been to obey the party’s official line,” observes Ahamed Kutty, secretary, Maunathul Islam Association (MIA), Ponnani. MIA trains Muslim converts.

“The community feels that the deal is anti-Indian. If the issue keeps burning till the next election, it might influence the voting behaviour of Muslims,” says E V Abdurahiman at Edappal. He has recently returned from the Gulf.

However, IUML’s Ponnani constituency president Asharaf Kokkoor said that raising anti-US feeling has been an election strategy of the CPI(M). “This time, we would see the community is not carried away by that sentiment,” he added.

Political observers say the IUML is almost silent on the issue, while the other camp, comprising the PDP, NDF and Jama’at Islami, has been actively campaigning to keep the community abreast of the latest developments and nurture anti-US sentiments.

Solidarity, the youth wing of Jama’at Islami, has been campaigning against imperialism. The League’s stand on the issue has given a fillip to the outfit’s efforts to mobilise anti-US opinion in the community.

Muslims in the region, known for their orthodoxy and religiosity, had en bloc voted for the IUML in the past. The party’s failure to address developmental concerns of the constituency had never influenced the voters. The late G M Banatwala had won from Ponnani with huge margins and with little legwork.

However, this time, the party has many things to worry about. Educated Muslim youths harbour strong anti-US sentiments. Many of them are easy targets for the NDF, PDP and Jama’at Islami.

“During electioneering, the League can convince the grey population about the inevitability of supporting the Congress in the nuclear deal. However, the educated youth are an agitated lot. They would easily be attracted to the extremist organisations, which are anti-IUML,” said Asif of Thirur.

The unexpected defeat of its candidate in Manjeri constituency at the hands of CPI(M) candidate T K Hamza in the 2004 election was a rude shock for the League. In the past, the IUML had worked at improving the victory margin but next time, the party would have to sweat it out for winning the seat.

But the Congress camp, comprising the IUML, is still complacent. “League workers used to vote according to the directions from party state president Panakkad Shihab Thangal. Hence, disregarding the anti-US sentiments, party workers would support the League,” says C Haridas, a Congress leader and ex-MLA.