Sunni Yuvajana Sangham urges CPI(M) not to blame minorities for poll defeat

The Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS), the youth wing of the Samastha Kerala Jamiyyathul Ulama led by Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musliar, has accused the Communist Party of India (marxist) [CPI(M)] of blaming minority communities for its defeat in the recent Keralam Assembly elections and urged the party to address discontent within its own ranks.

In an article in the Siraj newspaper on Tuesday (September 8, 2026), SYS State general secretary Rahmathulla Saqafi Elamaram said the CPI(M)’s criticism of a circular restricting the mixing of Muslim men and women at Islamic celebrations was a departure from its position over the past decade.

The controversy began after Mr. Aboobacker issued a circular to mahal leaders on Milad celebrations, asking them to avoid programmes where men and women mingled. Some political leaders and media outlets criticised the move as anti-women.

Reasons for discontentment

Mr. Saqafi said the CPI(M)’s electoral defeat was not due to poor governance but to discontent within the party. He said the first Pinarayi Vijayan government had performed well, but Cabinet changes after its return to power caused resentment among senior leaders who were left out while Mr. Vijayan continued as Chief Minister.

The discontent grew when Mr. Vijayan contested again and the wives and relatives of several party leaders secured seats, he said, reminding the CPI(M) to introspect rather than blame the minorities for the defeat.

Mr. Saqafi said the CPI(M)’s campaign style also fuelled discontent, with Keralam filled with large billboards featuring a single leader. He said many feared expulsion if they spoke out against the leadership.

The defeat was also a punishment from the party’s own rank and file, he said, warning that the CPI(M) could meet the fate of the Left in West Bengal unless it addressed the reasons for the setback instead of blaming party workers and community organisations.

The article, which is to be continued, also criticised political leaders for reacting to a 20-second excerpt from Mr. Aboobacker’s speech without hearing it in full or considering its context. “The leaders should have examined the speech before commenting, instead of immediately calling the remarks anti-women,” he said.

Mr. Saqafi said the Sunni movement considered the Left’s presence in Keralam’s politics important and that some sections of the United Democratic Front (UDF) also shared this view.