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Indian Union Muslim League Kerala State Committee (IMUL)



Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala State Committee Symbol

About Indian Union Muslim League, Kerala State Committee



Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is a regional political party recognized by the Election Commission of India which has prominent presence in the state of Kerala. The IUML is commonly called the Muslim League Kerala State Committee (MLKSC), as its mass base is
primarily from northern Kerala. The party has its presence in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu too. The MLKSC operates on the political ideology of regionalism, with a strong emphasis on pro-Muslim community interests in the state of Kerala, while at the same time maintaining harmony, mutual cooperation and unity between the Muslims and other communities in the state.

The Muslim League Kerala State Committee, also called the League, is the only Muslim community-catering organization that has maintained a steady presence in the Indian Parliament since its inception. Formed at a Muslim leaders' convention at Rajaji Hall in Chennai on 10th March 1948, the MLKSC decided to remain in allegiance with the Indian Territory, and not join hands with the original All India Muslim League of Mohammad Ali Jinnah, which moved to Pakistan after the country was carved out. Though preceded by the All India Muslim League, the MLKSC has upheld the ideals of secular democracy and social justice, while maintaining the legacy of the historic freedom struggle of India. At a time when building a party catering to the interests of a particular section of the society was unimaginable, the able guidance of leaders such as Ismail Sahib braved the odds and strengthened the League. The League attests immense significance to its role in the nation-building process in India, by safeguarding the cultural distinctiveness of the Muslim population in the state of Kerala as well as in Tamil Nadu. The first President of the MLKSC was Quaide Millath Mohamed Ismail Sahib and the first General Secretary of the party was K.T.M Ahmed Ibrahim.

From as early as 1952, the League has had representation in the Indian Parliament. Under the leadership of the late C.H. Mohammad, the MLKSC won the elections to Kerala Assembly in 1979, thus, forming the government. It has bagged increasing number of seats in the Kerala Legislative Assembly numbering 14 seats in 1982 to 20 seats in 2011. It suffered a minor setback in the 2006 Assembly elections wherein it won a mere 7 seats.

At present the Muslim League Kerala State Committee is the second largest political outfit in Kerala, after the Congress. It is in alliance with the ruling Congress-led United Democratic Front (UDF). It has five ministers in the present UDF government in Kerala. The President of the party is Panakkad Sayed Hyderali Shihab Thangal, after his brother Panakkad Sayed Mohammadali Shihab Thangal, former president of the IUML died in 2009.

Election Symbol of IMUL

The Election Symbol of the Muslim League Kerala State Committee, as approved by the Election Commission of India, is “Ladder”. A ladder is a simple wooden tool, which is used to climb up heights, facilitating easy movement. The MLKSC, in its political ideology, operates like a ladder which helps in carrying forward the cause of the Muslim community and other backward sections of the society. By upholding the Constitution of India, the League ensures that it bridges the gap between the past and the present, in order to achieve peace, prosperity and dignity in the lives of Muslims. This, the party achieves to do without, however, interfering in the lives of the people. In the famous words of the League's first President Mohammad Ismail Sahib, “Now the right to follow personal law is part of the way of life of those people who are following such laws; it is part of their religion and part of their culture. If anything is done affecting the personal laws, it will be tantamount to interference with the way of life of those people who have been observing these laws for generations and ages.”

In other words, the MLKSC ensures easy growth and rise of the people of Kerala, just as a ladder does, in its role. In working together with the Indian government, the MLKSC guards against any form of encroachment on the principles of federalism guaranteed by the Constitution and therefore guarantees individual liberty to the Muslim community, which is primarily needed for the growth of the community. Thus, the use of the 'ladder' symbol by the MLKSC is significant as it depicts what the party truly stands for and propagates in its political existence.

Leaders of IMUL

The leaders of the Indian Union Muslim League, who are also the national executives of the party, are listed below:
  • E. Ahamed, President of the IUML
    He is currently the Minister of State for External Affairs of India in the Congress-led UPA alliance of which the League is a prominent member. He represents the Malappuram constituency of Kerala in the 15th Lok Sabha.
  • Prof. K.M. Kader Mohideen, General Secretary of the IUML
    He is a former Member of Parliament in the 14th Lok Sabha, representing the Vellore constituency of Tamil Nadu.
  • P. K. Kunhalikutty, Treasurer of IUML
    He is presently the Minister for Industries and IT in the UDF government in Kerala. He is a Member of the Kerala Legislative Assembly, representing the Vengara constituency from Malappuram district in Kerala.
  • Advocate Iqbal Ahmed, Vice President of IUML
  • Dastgeer Ibrahim Aga, Vice President of IUML
  • E.T. Mohammad Basheer, National Secretary of IUML He is an MP from Ponnani Constituency, Kerala
  • Abdul Samad Samadani, National Secretary of IUML
    He is an MLA elected from Kottakkal in Kerala
  • Khorrum Anis Omer, National Secretary of IUML
  • S. Naim Akhtar, National Secretary of IUML
  • Shahinsha Jahangir, National Secretary of IUML
  • Shamim Sadiq, Assistant Secretary of IUML
  • Dr. M. Mateen Khan, Assistant Secretary of IUML
  • Siraj Ebrahim Sait, Assistant Secretary of IUML
  • Abdul Basith, Assistant Secretary of IUML
  • Sharfuddin Ansari, Assistant Secretary of IUML

Achievements of the Party

As a regional political party, the Muslim League Kerala State Committee has a number of achievements. Some of these are listed below:
  • The League has a number of frontal organizations under its banner. The foremost among them are its youth wing called the Muslim Youth League (MYL), its student wing called Muslim Students' Federation (MSF), its women's wing called Muslim Women's League (MWL). In Kerala exclusively, it has a trade union wing called Swathanthra Thozhilali Union or Independent Workers Union, and a separate peasants union called Swathanthra Karshaka Sangam or Independent Peasants' Unions. It also has a prominent forum called Lawyers Forum for Advocates. The League has an international affiliation called Kerala Muslim Cultural Centre, for upholding the cultural aspects of the League's supporters.
  • The MLKSC fought a successful battle for the preservation of the Muslim Personal Law. The protests were so impactful that the then Prime Minister of India, Jawaharlal Nehru assured the first President of the League that no change in the Muslim Personal Law would be made in any constitutional manner whatsoever, unless of course, the Muslim community themselves wanted to bring in certain amendments to the Law and the Sharia.
  • The League achieved enormous success in its agitations for the recognition of the minority character of the Aligarh Muslim University.
  • The League achieved success in its agitation for removing inroads into the 'Sharia', following the Shahbanu case.
  • The League continues its fights for the economic and educational interests of the minorities, including the status given to Urdu as a language, establishments of the Minority Financial Corporation, reservation for the Muslims as a minority in the various educational institutions and work places.
  • Retaining the unique Muslim character of the Jamia Millia University as well as strong support for the cause of the Babri Masjid in the Supreme Court.
  • Fighting all forms of terrorism and communal violence in the country, by upholding the principles of peace, prosperity and mutual harmony between all sections of the society.

Address and Contact Details

  • Official Website of MLKSC - http://iuml.com
  • Head-Office Address of MLKSC: League House, R.C. Road, Kozhikkode, Kerala- 32
  • Phone No: 0495-2365969
  • Fax: 0495-2366090
  • Email id: [email protected]
Last Updated on March 10, 2015