Muslim Votes Will Not Be Divided: K.M. Kader Mohideen, National President of the Indian Union Muslim League
Tamil Nadu: K.M. Kader Mohideen—National President of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) and a veteran politician from Tamil Nadu—stated that the entry of Thaweka leader Vijay into the electoral fray for the Tamil Nadu Assembly elections will not result in a split of the Muslim vote.
Furthermore, the late AIADMK General Secretary and former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had previously characterized the DMK as “an evil force.” Thaweka leader Vijay is currently leveling the very same accusation. However, Kader Mohideen noted that the people of Tamil Nadu have already rejected such claims.
His response to various queries: “There has been a policy-based understanding between the DMK and the Muslim community spanning 75 years. This alliance endures because the DMK’s policies—such as the principle of ‘One Clan, One God’—are tenets with which the Muslim community is in agreement.”
“But hasn’t the DMK allotted only two seats?”
“I had previously urged the then-DMK President, Karunanidhi, to ensure that a total of 16 seats—across the DMK and its alliance partners—be allotted to Muslim candidates, given that every single one of the 234 constituencies in the state holds a Muslim voter base ranging from 2,000 to 70,000. He fulfilled that request. We are hopeful that this commitment will be honored once again this time around. We accepted the allotment of two seats because the DMK-led alliance in this election comprises a large number of constituent parties.”
“Is this decision perhaps a consequence of the IUML’s lack of success in the last three consecutive elections?”
“The expenditure involved in election campaigning in Tamil Nadu has been steadily rising. During the previous election cycle, we lacked sufficient funds to conduct our campaign effectively; we are currently in the process of mobilizing those resources. We are confident that we will emerge victorious in both seats this time.” “Will the entry of Vijay into the electoral arena in this election lead to a fragmentation of the Muslim vote?”
“Across Tamil Nadu, there are over 8,000 mosque-based Mohalla Jamaats (local community councils). These Jamaats are predominantly composed of members from the Muslim community, and they will invariably endorse and support the decisions taken by the IUML.”
“Both the BJP and Thaweka do, admittedly, have some Muslim members within their ranks; however, they will not be able to secure the votes of the broader Muslim community.” Among the 48 political parties in Tamil Nadu—including Seeman’s ‘Naam Tamilar Katchi’ (Nam Tamil Party)—there are some Muslim members. However, they will not be able to fragment the Muslim vote. The vast majority of the Muslim community will cast their votes for the DMK. Is Muslim representation in Parliament and State Assemblies on the decline? The BJP, currently in power at the Centre, does not field candidates from the Muslim community in parliamentary elections. They openly state that the BJP does not require Muslim votes. This situation is bound to change over time. However, the situation in Tamil Nadu is different.
Are you suggesting that Muslim parties are struggling to secure more seats because they are fragmented? In 1989, all Muslim organizations across India collectively issued the ‘Mumbai Declaration.’ They agreed to abide by the Supreme Court’s verdict regarding the 250-year-old Babri Masjid dispute. Three key resolutions were passed, one of which stipulated that the status of places of worship existing prior to 1947 would remain unchanged. The Muslim League accepted this resolution.
However, following their split, several Muslim parties emerged, asserting that they would construct a new Babri Masjid. Now that the Babri Masjid issue has been resolved, it is hoped that, with the passage of time, these parties will eventually reunite.
Is Vijay accusing the DMK of being a ‘malign force’?
Vijay accuses the DMK of being a ‘malign force’ primarily to galvanize cinema fans and to boost the prospects of his own political party. Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa had also made similar assertions in the past. For 75 years, the people of Tamil Nadu have embraced the DMK—a party that has consistently raised its voice in defense of state autonomy and the rights of minorities.
Eighty percent of the people of Tamil Nadu will endorse the welfare schemes implemented by Chief Minister Stalin’s administration and will vote to ensure the continuation of his governance.
What is your opinion regarding the Thiruparankundram issue? Our party’s MP visited the Thiruparankundram hill to inspect the ‘Nawaz’ (a holy site). The reports alleging that non-vegetarian food was consumed there are merely rumors. When our party decided to stage a protest there, I intervened and stopped it. Our party will abide by the court’s final verdict regarding the lighting of lamps at the site. We will not allow communal tensions to flare up over this issue.
What is your response to the AIADMK’s claim that they are the protectors of Muslims?
Periyar E.V.R. and former Chief Minister Anna delivered speeches at conferences organized for the Muslim community. During the tenure of Chief Minister Karunanidhi—and indeed to this day—Muslims have remained close to the DMK.
It was the DMK that raised its voice—both inside and outside Parliament—against the Waqf Amendment Act, the Citizenship Amendment Act, and the Triple Talaq Ban Act, all of which were introduced by the BJP-led central government and were perceived as being directed against Muslims. The AIADMK did not do so. What is your opinion regarding the demands for a share in the government being raised by the DMK’s alliance partners?
Traditionally, a coalition government is not a viable concept in Tamil Nadu. In the future, depending on the prevailing circumstances, such a possibility may arise. However, for the time being, a coalition government will not be formed.
Is the BJP’s influence growing in Tamil Nadu?
The BJP is the largest political party in the world. Yet, despite being the ruling party at the Centre, the BJP will not be able to expand its footprint in Tamil Nadu; for this state is an ocean of education and social harmony. The lotus, after all, blooms only in ponds.
If the DMK returns to power, what will be the primary demands of the Muslim community?
Reservation quotas for Muslims should be increased. Schools and colleges should be granted minority institution status, and lease deeds should be issued for those Dargahs, mosques, and cemeteries that have been in continuous use for over a thousand years. We…
