Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan Highlights Jamaat-e-Islami’s Voting History and UDF Alliances

Thrissur: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that Jamaat-e-Islami has historically voted for the Congress. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan stated that the claim made by UDF leaders and even some Jamaat-e-Islami members that Jamaat-e-Islami has supported the Left for the past 30 years is not factual. He was speaking during an interaction with the media in Thrissur.

According to him, prior to 1985, Jamaat-e-Islami never believed in elections. Their first participation in voting was in 1987, but at that time, they did not vote for the left. In a 1992 article in the magazine Prabodhanam, Jamaat-e-Islami itself stated that in the 1987 elections, they did not vote for Marxist or fascist forces. The Chief Minister questioned who the “Kannivote” was cast for during that period, implying that it is very clear who they voted for.

Jamaat-e-Islami also voted for Congress in the 1991 elections. However, in 1992, the Congress-led central government banned Jamaat-e-Islami, which led them to withhold support for Congress in the 1996 elections. At that time, their votes were considered a protest against Congress. Over the years, they have taken different political stances in various phases. Between 2006 and 2011, during the VS Achuthanandan-led government in Kerala, Jamaat-e-Islami’s youth wing Solidarity led the anti-left coalition.

The Chief Minister emphasized that the Left Front has never sought Jamaat-e-Islami’s support explicitly, nor have they given them any “good conduct certificate.” Currently, he stated, Jamaat-e-Islami decides the UDF’s agenda. He further alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami is now preparing campaign materials for the UDF. The organisation is also leading the UDF’s “fake news factory,” he said, adding that Jamaat-e-Islami is shaping the UDF’s political agenda through misinformation campaigns. The UDF is reportedly ready to form alliances with anyone for four votes and two seats, and if an alliance with the BJP is possible, they are open to that as well.