Congress in a bind in Kerala as SDPI ‘support’ leaves it open to attack by rivals

IN A CASE of damned if it does, damned if it does not, the Congress is in a cleft stick in Kerala over an offer of support to the party-led UDF by the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI), the political wing of the banned Popular Front of India (PFI).

Given the allegations of radical Islam against the PFI, the BJP has jumped in, questioning the Congress on the SDPI’s move. However, the Congress is wary of outrightly rejecting the SDPI – the only PFI outfit not banned by the Central government – as it knows that the Muslim community is watching its every step, and that the LDF is waiting in the wings, eager to snap up the vote bank.

Offering its support to the Congress, SDPI state president Muvattupuzha Ashraf Moulavi told the media Monday that there was “a strong political sentiment” against the BJP at the national level, and that the Congress was the countervailing force. “Hence, we have decided to support the Congress in the Lok Sabha elections,” Moulavi said, adding: “The Congress’s stand favouring a caste census also influenced our decision to back the party in Kerala.”

This did not mean that the SDPI had an “understanding” with the Congress, Moulavi clarified: “It is our stand… it is up to them”.

Moulavi said the SDPI would not be contesting the Lok Sabha polls in Kerala either, even as it fights 18 seats elsewhere in the country. In 2019, the SDPI had contested 10 seats in the state, though their vote share was calculated not separately but as ‘Others’ by the Election Commission.

Asked about the SDPI’s offer, UDF convenor and senior Congress leader M M Hassan said: “We cannot say no to SDPI votes. Every vote is precious and of equal value.”

However, the party’s Leader of Opposition in the Assembly, V D Satheesan,