Ponmala

Two political fronts – the UDF led by the Congress and the LDF lead by the CPI(M) – occupied the political landscape of Kerala until a third one – NDA led by the BJP – recently jostled its way in and tried to oust them. In the run up to last year’s election, the NDA succeeded in creating an impression that their day had come, but the LDF led by Pinarayi Vijayan called their bluff – they lost even the single seat they had in the Kerala Assembly. And what’s more, Pinarayi created history by becoming the first Chief Minister to hold the reins of Kerala for a second consecutive term. That sterling success was scripted by the determination of a section of the 24% strong Muslim community to stall the BJP’s progress by switching allegiance from the UDF to the LDF. And thereby hangs a tale.
The BJP made its entry into Kerala’s politics by weaning away almost all Brahmins and a substantial section of Nairs from the Congress and a tiny percentage of Scheduled Castes from the Communist parties. Their following plateaued after that. In his characteristic style, Amit Shah decided to take that sluggishness head on by roping in the 30% strong Eezhavas into the NDA fold. Corruption tainted head of the Eeshava community, Vellapally Natesan, took the bait, eyeing a national role for himself and his son. He formed a new political party under the name and title of Bharat Dharma Jana Sena (BDJS) and brought it under the NDA umbrella. In his new avatar as a Hindutva protagonist, Vellapally became an out and out Muslim baiter to curry favour with the RSS brigade.
The Muslims hit back by supporting the LDF, trusting that, unlike Congress leaders, Communist leaders like Achuthanandan and Pinarayi Vijayan would have the guts to put Vellapally Natasen behind bars and prosecute him for alleged corruption in the Micro Finance Case. But that was a mislaid trust. Pinarayi Vijayan used the corruption case to blackmail Vellapally into issuing statements in support of his polices. They continue to be friends in need. But the Muslims overlooked that and voted for the LDF yet again, because their primary goal was to keep the BJP at bay. It did raise many an eyebrow when atheist communists entered into an opportunist alliance with a Muslim fundamentalist faction, but that practice is now in vogue. The communists have become communal, something that is bound to happen to any entity that sacrifices ideology on the alter of power.
When relentless tidal waves of natural disasters hit Pinarayi Vijayan’s first term as Chief Minister, he feared that the support of a section of Muslims alone would not suffice to win the 2021 state election. So, he engineered a split in the Syrian Christian dominated Kerala Congress and wrested the better of the two halves. That, together with some generous doles to the disaster-stricken citizens, ensured for him a better than previous share of seats in the Kerala Assembly. He now reigns almost like a king, caring a hoot about anybody’s opposition to his policies and decisions.
The clout exhibited by Muslims to bring a government of their choice to power enraged the BJP. Coincidentally, an influential section of the Syrian Catholics resented this clout of the Muslims for other reasons. 1. In all social parameters like wealth, education, medical care and public presence, the Syrian Christians stood far above the Muslims until the Gulf boom happened. 2. The Muslims have now caught up with the Syrians on all of them. Furthermore, the Muslim backed Muslim League began wielding greater clout than the Syrian Christian backed Kerala Congress in the Congress led UDF. Both these developments caused some heartburn in a section of Syrian Christians who reside in the hills. 3. Many in the Syrian Catholic hierarchy fear that hard-core Muslims are working with evangelical zeal to snatch away Christian girls (Love Jihad) and vilify the Catholic Church using renegades like former nun Lucy Kalappurakkal and the Sister who lodged a complaint of rape against Bp Franco Mulakkal. They also believe that they are generously funded by fundamentalist Muslim groups.
In short, both the BJP and a vocal section of Syrian Catholics found a common enemy in the Muslims of Kerala. The Muslims played into the hands of their detractors when they actively supported the Vanchi Square public protest of the Kuravilangadu nuns, when they overreacted against the Love Jihad statement of the bishop of Pala, and when their women staged a protest against the court judgement that declared Bp Franco innocent. The Syrians and the Muslims have crossed swords, and the clang is getting louder by the day.
The Catholics of Kerala are now a divided house. The bishops share a stage for the cameras and indulge in rivalry off-stage. Their rivalry is best reflected in their political loyalty. As for the Syrians, the head is in BJP’s lap, the torso in CPI(M)’s lap and the hip in the Congress’s lap. The Latins have divided their loyalty almost equally between the CPI(M) and the Congress. Of course, Keralites have over the years mastered the skill of co-existence under divided loyalties. But what looks ominous is the rivalry between Syrians and Muslims. That raises the strong possibility of Kerala spiralling into social anarchy in the not so distant future.
Christian youth are flying off to Western countries on wings that show up as soon as they enter their teens. Muslims don’t go further than the Gulf countries. The Christian youth never return; Gulf Muslims will have to eventually return. Which means, Christians could get reduced to 8-10% of Kerala’s population in quarter of a century and Muslims could rise to 40% or even more. The Christians may then join forces with the Hindus against the Muslims, setting the stage for unending social conflict. Unless sane elements in the three major communities become assertive and vocal, God’s Own Country could, sooner than later, become Devil’s Paradise.