The return of the three women workers in the Muslim League fold has angered the BJP and strengthened Congress-led UDF support among youth and Muslim voters
NEW DELHI – The political scene in Kerala has turned lively after the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) fielded three young Muslim women for the local body elections, years after removing them from the party. Their names—Fathima Tahiliya, Mufeedha Thesni, and T Najma Tabashira—have become central to the election discussion, surprising many inside and outside the party.
The BJP, which often targets the IUML for its alliance with the Congress-led UDF, has not welcomed the move. The party has a long history of criticising the Muslim League and regularly uses it to provoke political debate. When Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi won from Wayanad, BJP leaders mocked her as a “new member of the Muslim League”.
All three candidates were once active members of Haritha, the women’s wing of the Muslim League. Haritha was created in 2012 to bring more women into party work. Fathima Tahiliya was the wing’s first president.
That same year, the three leaders filed a sexual harassment complaint against the president of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) before the Kerala Women’s Commission. Instead of standing with the young women, the party removed them and even disbanded Haritha.
A party worker in Kozhikode, reacting to their return, said, “They paid a heavy price for speaking up. What the League has done now is a clear message that wrong decisions can be corrected.”
After four years, the IUML decided to bring them back, giving all three important responsibilities and now nominating them as candidates. This has been seen as a strong political message and an attempt to reach younger voters and women.
A senior League leader, requesting anonymity, said, “There is a clear push inside the party to support young Muslim women who want change. These three are educated, confident, and respected. They deserved a second chance.”
• Fathima Tahiliya – Kozhikode Municipal Corporation; projected to be Deputy Mayor candidate
• Mufeedha Thesni – Wayanad District Panchayat
• T Najma Tabashira – Perinthalmanna; she had also won earlier
Their entry has lifted the morale of many young Muslim women in Kerala who felt ignored in mainstream politics.
A student leader in Malappuram said, “For Muslim women, this is not just an election. It is a sign that we also belong in public life.”
The IUML, established in 1948 by Mohammed Ismail, continues to be one of the strongest Muslim political voices in India. Its election symbol is the ladder, and its green flag carries a crescent and star. The party holds a stable base among Muslims in Kerala and remains an essential part of the UDF alliance.
In 2024, the IUML won three Lok Sabha seats and has maintained a continuous presence in Parliament since 1952.
Although people often confuse the two, MA Jinnah’s All India Muslim League dissolved after Partition. The Indian Union Muslim League was formed later and is active only in India, mainly in Kerala. It follows a democratic path and contests elections regularly.
IUML leader from Malappuram noted, “Our party is Indian, our politics is Indian, and our voters are Indian Muslims. Comparing us with pre-Partition politics is unnecessary.”
The BJP’s discomfort is clear as the IUML’s move strengthens Muslim participation and boosts the UDF’s image. Many see the BJP’s criticism as an attempt to weaken the growing confidence of Muslim women in Kerala.
A Kozhikode voter said, “The BJP does not like the Muslim League because it stands with our community. These three women are proof that Muslim women can lead with courage.”
With polling approaching, the presence of the three candidates has given the IUML a fresh appeal, especially among young voters who see their reinstatement as justice delivered after years of neglect.
