The only thing that might make the BJP stop trying to isolate Muslims completely will be if substantial numbers of the community vote for the party that flaunts its animosity towards it, notes Jyoti Punwani.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan clarified the party's position on Malappuram district, stating they criticise the influence of communalism on parties like IUML, not the district itself. This comes after former MLA P Nandakumar allegedly made communal remarks about Malappuram, leading to complaints and criticism from Minister K M Shaji.
The opposition party also said that it would like to remind the BJP that Hindu Mahasabha president Syama Prasad Mookerjee aligned with Jinnah's Muslim League to form the government in Bengal during the British rule.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan has strongly condemned alleged communal remarks made by CPI(M) leader P Nandakumar regarding Malappuram district, linking them to past statements by former CM Pinarayi Vijayan. Satheesan demanded an apology from the CPI(M) and clarification from its leadership, warning of strict action against communal hatred. CPI(M) leaders, including Nandakumar, have denied the allegations, stating their criticism was aimed at communal influences on political parties, not the district itself.
Major opposition leaders, including Rahul Gandhi and Mallikarjun Kharge, have filed a petition in the Supreme Court challenging alleged large-scale voter deletions and irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. This action follows a "March for Democracy" and a declined request to meet the Chief Justice of India regarding "vote chori" allegations.
On a tour to the US, Gandhi told reporters in Washington that the Muslim League is a completely secular party and there is nothing non-secular about it.
Banatwala is a seven-time Lok Sabha member and represented the Ponnani parliamentary constituency in Mallapuram district of Kerala.
Keralam Minister K M Shaji has returned an ultra-luxury Range Rover, belonging to a friend, which he was using as his official vehicle. The move comes amidst controversy and allegations of violating his oath of office, with the opposition questioning the use of a private luxury car instead of a government-provided one.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay is set to chair a crucial TVK alliance coordination meeting in Chennai. The meeting aims to formalise the ruling coalition's structure, common minimum programme, and joint steering committee. However, the absence of key Left allies and a public rift between TVK and Congress over national leadership aspirations threaten to destabilise the alliance, highlighting a significant test for CM Vijay's political management.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist on Friday said the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is "not a communal party" and praised the key partner of the opposition United Democratic Front for not agreeing with the Congress on the issue of the alleged move by Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, who according to the ruling front, was trying to "saffronise" the universities in Kerala.
The INDIA bloc has formulated a joint action plan to address the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) row and concerns over Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs). Following a meeting of key opposition leaders, the alliance announced a series of "save democracy" marches, demonstrations, and a march to the Election Commission, demanding a return to ballot papers for elections and alleging electoral malpractices by the ruling government.
SNDP Yogam leader Vellappally Natesan has claimed that the IUML's support for V D Satheesan as chief minister indicates the League will hold significant power if the UDF wins the Kerala Assembly polls.
Rahul Gandhi led INDIA bloc leaders in a surprise dharna near Jantar Mantar, protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. For the second consecutive day, police detained Gandhi and other opposition MPs, stalling their planned demonstration. The protest saw dramatic moments, including Priyanka Gandhi Vadra lying on the street, as leaders vowed to continue their fight for electoral integrity.
An IUML MLA has stated that the delay in the Congress party's decision on who should be the Chief Minister of Kerala has diminished the UDF's victory and is making it difficult for workers and MLAs to engage with the public.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan has accused the Congress party of failing to deliver on its promise to construct houses for victims of the 2024 Wayanad landslide, alleging lack of transparency in funds collected and spreading misinformation about the state government's policies.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan's Facebook post criticising Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar's alleged anti-women remarks has disappeared, with the CMO citing a technical error. The incident has sparked political criticism from CPI(M) and BJP, who question the explanation and accuse the Congress of hypocrisy.
Tamil Nadu's ruling Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) won bypolls in Madurantakam and Dharapuram, strengthening its minority government. Concurrently, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) secured emphatic victories in West Bengal's Nandigram and Muslim-majority Rejinagar, consolidating its post-TMC rule position. The BJP also established a significant lead in Assam's Nagaon Lok Sabha bypoll, and its ally AINRC retained Thattanchavady in Puducherry.
The official Congress Keralam 'X' account posted a controversial message against CJI Surya Kant, which quickly went viral before being deleted. The party subsequently removed the individual responsible, with KPCC president Sunny Joseph stating the post was unauthorised and did not reflect the party's stance on judicial impartiality. Union Minister Kiren Rijiju criticised Congress over the incident.
Assembly by-elections in Madurantakam and Dharapuram will offer an early measure of the TVK's electoral strength and put the dynamics of its new alliance in focus.
Ruling TVK legislators are advocating for Tamil Nadu Chief Minister C Joseph Vijay as their Prime Ministerial candidate for the 2029 Lok Sabha polls, a move dismissed by the Congress party which insists on Rahul Gandhi as their choice. This internal conflict within the alliance highlights a growing divide over national political ambitions.
Youth League activists clashed with police during a protest march at a dental college in Kerala over the death of a Dalit student. The protest was triggered by allegations of harassment and demands for action against faculty members.
Political circles in Tamil Nadu are rife with speculation about a potential alliance between rivals DMK and AIADMK to prevent the TVK from forming a government. This comes after the Congress party joined forces with TVK, further complicating the political landscape.
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor cited the Kerala Assembly election results as an example of communal harmony, highlighting instances where voters looked beyond caste and religion.
The IUML alleged that the bill violates the fundamental Right to Equality of the Constitution.
The Tamil Nadu cabinet will be expanded with the inclusion of two Congress MLAs in the C Joseph Vijay-led ministry, marking the national party's return to government in Tamil Nadu after decades.
Crorepati Candidates: Congress (61). BJP (52). CPM (52).
The Kerala Sports Department has submitted its confidential inquiry report regarding the controversy surrounding the proposed visit of football legend Lionel Messi and the Argentina team to the state during the previous government's tenure.
Additional district and sessions judge Rajitha TH had on May 12 held the 25 accused guilty of the murder of Nooruddin and Hamsa, who were members of the AP Sunni party, a supporter of the Left front.
C Joseph Vijay was sworn in as the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu at a gala event attended by prominent personalities including Rahul Gandhi. The swearing-in ceremony saw the presence of Vijay's parents and actress Trisha, while former CMs M K Stalin and Edappadi K Palaniswami were absent.
The precedence given to 'Vande Mataram' and 'Jana Gana Mana' over the 'Tamil Thaai Vaazhthu' has triggered a controversy in Tamil Nadu, with political parties condemning the decision to relegate the Tamil invocation to third place at the swearing-in ceremony of Chief Minister Joseph C Vijay.
CPI(M) state secretary M V Govindan has accused a Kozhikode-based cooperative society of fraud following the alleged suicide of a depositor, claiming the society, run by local Congress leaders, failed to return the deceased's money.
The Supreme Court has announced it will begin final hearings on May 5 regarding the constitutional validity of the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 (CAA), with over 200 petitions challenging the law.
The Union Home Ministry has designated 23 individuals based in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK) as terrorists under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) for their involvement in infiltration, recruitment, logistics, financing, and operational planning targeting India.
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan defended his use of the caste surname "Menon" during his swearing-in ceremony, saying he had only mentioned his father's name and saw nothing wrong in doing so on such an occasion.
Police in Kerala have launched an investigation into an alleged online attack targeting the state president of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), Syyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal, after a defamatory post surfaced on social media.
IUML leader P K Kunhalikutty confirms the party will contest the same number of seats in the upcoming Assembly elections as in 2021, amidst ongoing seat-sharing discussions within the UDF alliance.
The entire Cabinet of the new Kerala government is expected to be sworn in on Monday, with the list of ministers likely to be finalised soon, according to UDF convenor Adoor Prakash. Leaders of UDF allies held a meeting to discuss the preparations for the swearing-in ceremony.
VCK chief Thol Thirumavalan announced that his party has decided to join the TVK-led cabinet in Tamil Nadu, with Vanni Arasu nominated for induction. The decision follows an invitation from TVK and reflects VCK's long-standing philosophy of sharing power.
A man has been arrested in Kerala for allegedly attempting to extort money from a relative of IUML state president Sayyid Sadikkali Shihab Thangal by threatening to circulate defamatory images of the leader online.
AM Shahjahan and Vanni Arasu from IUML and VCK respectively were sworn in as ministers in Tamil Nadu, increasing the number of allies in the TVK government. This marks the first time representatives from both parties have been inducted into the state cabinet, signifying a shift in Tamil Nadu's coalition dynamics.
