Trouble has erupted in the Jamaat-e-Islami in Kerala with Hameed Vanimel, the political secretary of the organisation, resigning in protest against its offer to support the left democratic front in the ensuing Assembly elections.
Addressing a news conference here on Sunday, Mr Hameed said Jamaat-e-Islami and its feeder organisations had been fighting against the anti-minority stand of the LDF government for the past few years.
“The government had tried to suppress the agitations with an iron hand,” he said. “It is irrational to wish for the continuity of the same government,” he added.
Mr Hameed revealed that Jamat Kerala Amir T. Arifali had secret parleys with CPI(M) state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan at Alapuzha on March 20.
“The CPI(M) has been using its might to destroy the Jamaat by branding it as an extremist organisation,” he said.
“Showing leniency towards such a party is against the character of an organisation like Jamaat-e-Islami which has an independent stance.”
Political analysts feel that seeking Jamaat’s support in Assembly elections will land the LDF in deep trouble as it will give the opposition strong ammunition.
Jamaat had extended support to the LDF in the last Assembly election too. But after the honeymoon period was over, the Jamaat became increasingly impatient with the LDF rule.
The Jamaat and CPI(M) came to face-to-face during the agitation against the four lane road to Kinalur industrial park, a pet project of industries minister Elamaram Kareem.
The violent protest at Kinalur and the brutal lathicharge that followed culminated in their total separation.
Mr Vijayan also started branding the Jamaat as the fountainhead of all extremist organisations in India. Now he will be forced to eat his words.