OnePlus Nord 6 launches with Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 and large 9000 mAh batteryOnePlus Nord 6 launches with a 6.78-inch 165Hz AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 chip, 50MP camera and massive 9,000mAh battery with fast charging support. Published on: Apr 07
Fixed deposit (FD) investors are closely watching interest rate trends as global developments begin to influence India’s financial outlook. With rising geopolitical tensions—particularly in the Middle East—there are growing concerns about inflation
In anticipation of the arrival of RSS Chief Dr Mohan Bhagwat and Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath to attend the 452nd Birth Anniversary (Jayanti Mahotsav) of Jagadguru Sant Malook Das in Mathura and Vrindavan, the district administrations have implemented significant traffic diversions and security
The Kerala High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition challenging Bharatiya Janata Party MP Suresh Gopi’s victory in the 2024 Lok Sabha election from Thrissur, reported Bar and Bench. The petition was filed by Joshi Villadom who had contested the 2024 elections as an Independent candidate
At a recent awards show, Zakir Khan spoke about Dhurandhar: The Revenge’s massive success, suggesting that the film industry was secretly ‘jealous’ of it. He also joked, “Film mein bomb phoote Lyari mein aur yahan dhuaa udaa Bandra se Juhu mein. (The bombs may have gone off in Lyari
Will an evolving League boost UDF’s prospects?
Will an evolving League boost UDF’s prospects?
Will an evolving League boost UDF’s prospects?
CPI(M)’sred, IUML’s green and Congress tricolour mark political loyalties in rural north Kerala, where agrarian roots have given way to Gulf remittance wealth.
Updated on: Apr 08, 2026 7:47 AM IST By Amrith Lal Share via Copy link The narrow winding road from Narikkode to Keezhariyur was decked in a sea of flags. The red flag of the CPI(M), the green flag of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and the hand-stamped tricolour of the Congress acted as signposts to the political preferences of this rural area in northern Kerala, where agrarian prosperity had long ago given way to wealth from Gulf remittances. A campaign poster of Fathima Thahliya, the IUML candidate from Perambra constituency in Kerala. (HT Print) A small memorial stood sentinel to the memory of the Hindu-Muslim cast of the Keezhariyur Bomb Conspiracy case. This is where local socialists, led by K.B. Menon (later a Member of Parliament), plotted to bomb the railway following the launch of the Quit India Movement in 1942. It is here that Fathima Thahliya is seeking a place in history. Also read | High-octane campaigning ends for Kerala, Assam, Puducherry ahead of April 9 poll In a party synonymous with male politicians, Thahliya is an exception. A 34-year-old lawyer from Kozhikode, she is one of the two women candidates of the IUML, the Congress’s most valuable ally within the United Democratic Front (UDF). Her candidature has changed the nature of the contest in Perambra, a storied constituency near Kozhikode ringed by the Western Ghats to its east and the Korappuzha estuary in the west, which has voted for Left Democratic Front candidates in all elections since 1980. Her entry threatens to upset LDF convenor and former CPI(M) minister TP Ramakrishnan’s re-election (though TP won with a margin of over 22,000 votes in 2021). Irrespective of the outcome, her candidature is a marker of massive changes underway in the Muslim politics of Malabar. It bodes well for the general health of politics in Kerala, where political parties are obstinate about sending women to the state assembly and Parliament; in fact, only 7.86% of Kerala’s MLAs are women. Also read | From margins to muscle, BJP’s Kerala push intensifies The evening this reporter visited Perambra, Thahliya was holding a roadshow that drew people of all ages, religions, and genders. This diminutive postgraduate in law—comfortable with English and Malayalam and boasting a string of achievements—held forth before a receptive audience on the merits of voting for the UDF. In Left strongholds, men looked away, but the womenfolk enthusiastically welcomed her. Wherever she stepped off the campaign vehicle, women swarmed her for selfies. “Very good vibes,” she told this reporter. “Her entry has enthused young people,” said Akbar Shah, a polytechnic student. Muslims constitute 26.56% of Kerala’s population (2011 Census) and are influential in the 57 seats across northern Kerala districts like Kasargode, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad. The IUML, or the League as it is popularly known, has remained the community’s preferred platform and the rock on which the UDF has stood for decades. In the past, the CPI(M) had popular leaders like EK Imbichibava and Paloli Muhhammed Kutty, and the Congress had the backing of the “nationalist” Muslims. These categories have disappeared recently, though young leaders have risen within the Congress and the CPI(M). Importantly, the League first fielded a woman candidate in 2021 and has now nominated two women, including Jayanti Rajan, a Hindu Dalit, from the non-reserved Koothuparamba seat. Rajan, a national assistant secretary of the League active since 2010, hopes to follow the trail of UC Raman, a Hindu Dalit who represented the League thrice in the assembly. Both Rajan and Thahliya have previously represented the League in local bodies. “Considering the League’s social base, this transformation is revolutionary,” says NP Chekkutty, author of Muslim League in Kerala History. Chekkutty recalls League supremo Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal stating that larger societal concerns are even more important than community issues. MH Illias, professor at Mahatma Gandhi University, notes that the League’s priorities shifted over the last decade toward welfare politics, addressing poverty, health, and the needs of the Gulf diaspora. This adaptability explains how the League survived political isolation after the Emergency and challenges from radical groups after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. While the Pankkad Thangal family remains the guiding force, the leadership has democratized to reflect a diverse class base. “The mature stance of the League leadership to provocative utterances from the LDF results from deep reflection about prevailing anti-Muslim sentiment,” says Chekkutty. Consequently, the League has attracted many non-Muslim politicians and even temple music practitioner Njaralath Hari Govindan. In this election, community support for the UDF could be critical. While the League contests only 27 seats, it provides the foot soldiers for the UDF across northern Kerala. Conversely, the League’s absence in southern districts hurts the UDF as the Congress stands alone, and lack of familiarity with the League often feeds into Islamophobia. The League’s shift mirrors changes in the community. Shilujas, a sociology teacher at Farook College, points to a new class of articulate, political young women enabled by remittances and modern education. She notes they are uncompromising in Islamic values but assertive about their agency. Shilujas views Thahliya as a representative of this Gen Z Muslim woman. The League has embraced this shift; after disciplinary action in 2021 against leaders of Haritha, the women student’s wing of the League, including Thahliya, for opposing sexism, the party revoked the action and appointed them to leadership positions. This cultural resurgence is also evident in cinema, academia, and the arts. Films like Halal Love Story and Feminichi Fathima suggest a community in transition. Shilujas sees new Malayalam cinema as a space of dissent where creative youth carve out a world outside male-controlled religious conservatism. This is a universe the Left seems unwilling to engage with, perhaps fearing the loss of core Hindu voters to the BJP. It is also a community with an internalist outlook, identifying with the Palestinian cause and is concerned about the Israel-US-Iran conflict. To paint this as radical misinterprets a community under siege and denies the liberal impulses guiding its response to Indian democracy. “The Left may have lost the trust of the community,” says Shilujas. That has political consequences. Iuml Check India news real-time updates, latest news from India and RBSE Rajasthan 12th Result 2026, latest at HindustanTime Home / India News / Will An Evolving League Boost UDF’s Prospects? See LessThe narrow winding road from Narikkode to Keezhariyur was decked in a sea of flags. The red flag of the CPI(M), the green flag of the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), and the hand-stamped tricolour of the Congress acted as signposts to the political preferences of this rural area in northern Kerala, where agrarian prosperity had long ago given way to wealth from Gulf remittances.
A small memorial stood sentinel to the memory of the Hindu-Muslim cast of the Keezhariyur Bomb Conspiracy case. This is where local socialists, led by K.B. Menon (later a Member of Parliament), plotted to bomb the railway following the launch of the Quit India Movement in 1942. It is here that Fathima Thahliya is seeking a place in history.
Also read | High-octane campaigning ends for Kerala, Assam, Puducherry ahead of April 9 poll
In a party synonymous with male politicians, Thahliya is an exception. A 34-year-old lawyer from Kozhikode, she is one of the two women candidates of the IUML, the Congress’s most valuable ally within the United Democratic Front (UDF). Her candidature has changed the nature of the contest in Perambra, a storied constituency near Kozhikode ringed by the Western Ghats to its east and the Korappuzha estuary in the west, which has voted for Left Democratic Front candidates in all elections since 1980.
Her entry threatens to upset LDF convenor and former CPI(M) minister TP Ramakrishnan’s re-election (though TP won with a margin of over 22,000 votes in 2021). Irrespective of the outcome, her candidature is a marker of massive changes underway in the Muslim politics of Malabar. It bodes well for the general health of politics in Kerala, where political parties are obstinate about sending women to the state assembly and Parliament; in fact, only 7.86% of Kerala’s MLAs are women.
Also read | From margins to muscle, BJP’s Kerala push intensifies
The evening this reporter visited Perambra, Thahliya was holding a roadshow that drew people of all ages, religions, and genders. This diminutive postgraduate in law—comfortable with English and Malayalam and boasting a string of achievements—held forth before a receptive audience on the merits of voting for the UDF.
In Left strongholds, men looked away, but the womenfolk enthusiastically welcomed her. Wherever she stepped off the campaign vehicle, women swarmed her for selfies. “Very good vibes,” she told this reporter. “Her entry has enthused young people,” said Akbar Shah, a polytechnic student.
Muslims constitute 26.56% of Kerala’s population (2011 Census) and are influential in the 57 seats across northern Kerala districts like Kasargode, Kannur, Kozhikode, Malappuram, and Palakkad. The IUML, or the League as it is popularly known, has remained the community’s preferred platform and the rock on which the UDF has stood for decades. In the past, the CPI(M) had popular leaders like EK Imbichibava and Paloli Muhhammed Kutty, and the Congress had the backing of the “nationalist” Muslims. These categories have disappeared recently, though young leaders have risen within the Congress and the CPI(M).
Importantly, the League first fielded a woman candidate in 2021 and has now nominated two women, including Jayanti Rajan, a Hindu Dalit, from the non-reserved Koothuparamba seat. Rajan, a national assistant secretary of the League active since 2010, hopes to follow the trail of UC Raman, a Hindu Dalit who represented the League thrice in the assembly. Both Rajan and Thahliya have previously represented the League in local bodies.
“Considering the League’s social base, this transformation is revolutionary,” says NP Chekkutty, author of Muslim League in Kerala History. Chekkutty recalls League supremo Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal stating that larger societal concerns are even more important than community issues. MH Illias, professor at Mahatma Gandhi University, notes that the League’s priorities shifted over the last decade toward welfare politics, addressing poverty, health, and the needs of the Gulf diaspora.
This adaptability explains how the League survived political isolation after the Emergency and challenges from radical groups after the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992. While the Pankkad Thangal family remains the guiding force, the leadership has democratized to reflect a diverse class base. “The mature stance of the League leadership to provocative utterances from the LDF results from deep reflection about prevailing anti-Muslim sentiment,” says Chekkutty. Consequently, the League has attracted many non-Muslim politicians and even temple music practitioner Njaralath Hari Govindan.
In this election, community support for the UDF could be critical. While the League contests only 27 seats, it provides the foot soldiers for the UDF across northern Kerala. Conversely, the League’s absence in southern districts hurts the UDF as the Congress stands alone, and lack of familiarity with the League often feeds into Islamophobia.
The League’s shift mirrors changes in the community. Shilujas, a sociology teacher at Farook College, points to a new class of articulate, political young women enabled by remittances and modern education. She notes they are uncompromising in Islamic values but assertive about their agency. Shilujas views Thahliya as a representative of this Gen Z Muslim woman. The League has embraced this shift; after disciplinary action in 2021 against leaders of Haritha, the women student’s wing of the League, including Thahliya, for opposing sexism, the party revoked the action and appointed them to leadership positions.
This cultural resurgence is also evident in cinema, academia, and the arts. Films like Halal Love Story and Feminichi Fathima suggest a community in transition. Shilujas sees new Malayalam cinema as a space of dissent where creative youth carve out a world outside male-controlled religious conservatism.
This is a universe the Left seems unwilling to engage with, perhaps fearing the loss of core Hindu voters to the BJP. It is also a community with an internalist outlook, identifying with the Palestinian cause and is concerned about the Israel-US-Iran conflict. To paint this as radical misinterprets a community under siege and denies the liberal impulses guiding its response to Indian democracy. “The Left may have lost the trust of the community,” says Shilujas. That has political consequences.
Source: HindustanTimes
Related Posts: Toxic release delay may boost Dhurandhar 2 box office prospects by ₹100 crore Amit Shah targets LDF and UDF over Waqf issue in Ernakulam rally UDF Will Return In Kerala Rahul Gandhi confident of UDF's victory in Kerala elections Team UDF is Team Keralam Government not evolving India to protect its interests in trade deal with US amid evolving situation Sumit Nagal focused on evolving his game Know Your Rights How Laws Are Evolving To Support Women Entrepreneurs In India
If not Scheffler and McIlroy, these men could be slipping into a Green Jacket come Sunday Published on: Apr 08, 2026 8:00 AM IST By Joy Chakravarty Share via Copy link Augusta National Golf Club Key Takeaways Summary is AI-generated The last few weeks indicate that world No1 and No2
Just now
RTI activist shot at by unidentified assailant in AiroliThe incident occurred around 11:45 pm at Chhatrapati Rahivasi Sangh, where Maurya was meeting his friend, contractor Sandeep Gawas, who was overseeing construction work in the area Published on: Apr 08
Just now
Lalit Modi says his proposal for the IPL to be an independent company, not a subsidiary of the BCCI, was turned down. Lalit Modi, the former IPL chairman, has revealed that he had proposed making the league an independent entity – an idea he believes would have turned it into an “ecosystem unto
Just now
Man on bike spotted working on laptop at 12:15 am, internet reacts to viral video: ‘Bhai ghar jake so ja’The video of a man working on his bike at night has sparked a discussion about Indian corporate culture. Published on: Apr 08, 2026 6:49 AM IST By Trisha Sengupta Share via Copy link While
Just now
Maruti Suzuki retails its complete lineup via two retail chains – Arena and Nexa. The latter is where the automaker sells more premium offerings. Currently, the Nexa lineup includes – Ignis, Baleno, Fronx, Jimny, XL6, Grand Vitara, and Invicto
Just now
Bangladesh’s deadly measles surge shows how fast outbreaks return when vaccination dips — a warning for India, where immunity gaps could put children at risk. At least 98 children are reported to have died in Bangladesh over the past three weeks due to measles
Just now
WASHINGTON (AP) — Thomas Saggese hit a go-ahead double in the 10th inning, and the St. Louis Cardinals rallied for a 7-6 win over the Washington Nationals on Tuesday night. Nathan Church and Jordan Walker homered for St. Louis. The Cardinals scored five runs against the Nationals’ scuffling
Just now
Tech giant Realme has confirmed that its upcoming Realme Narzo 100 Lite 5G will debut in India next week. The smartphone-maker announced the launch date of this budget handset on Tuesday. It will be the successor to the Narzo 80 Lite 5G, which launched last year. This smartphone will offer a 6
Just now
Royal Enfield has updated the Hunter 350 range in India with the introduction of a new Base Premium variant, aimed at offering better equipment without pushing buyers into the top-spec models. The new trim is priced at around Rs 1.49 lakh (ex-showroom) and is now open for bookings
Just now
HSLC result date 2026: Assam HSLC class 10 result 2026 will be announced by officials on April 10, 2026. However, official confirmation notification containing the date and time is still awaited. Check the article below for complete details. HSLC result date 2026: The Assam HSLC (Class 10) Result
Just now
Mumbai: The Mumbai Metropolitan Region Development Authority has expanded the city’s metro network with the launch of Metro Lines 2B and 9 on Tuesday, strengthening suburban connectivity across the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The two corridors will begin commercial operations on April 8
Just now
The Information and Broadcasting ministry has extended the suspension of television news ratings. This move aims to curb sensationalism and speculative content. The Broadcast Audience Research Council is directed to withhold reporting of TRPs for news channels
Just now
United States President Donald Trump on Tuesday announced a two-week ceasefire in West Asia in exchange for Iran reopening the Strait of Hormuz. Iran confirmed the ceasefire. The country’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said that Iranian forces will stop their “defensive operations” if the
Just now
The correction of answer sheets for the 10th grade public examination begins today, and the results are scheduled to be released on May 20. The 10th class public examination for students under the Tamil Nadu state syllabus commenced on March 11. A total of 882,806 regular school students and 13
Just now
Land mafia kingpin held for encroaching on 2.10 acres in VasaiSurendra Pratap Singh aka Randha was arrested on Monday night by a team attached to unit 4 of the MBVV crime branch based on technical intelligence and investigation, police said Published on: Apr 08
Just now
RBI MPC April Meet 2026: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra is set to announce the latest repo rate decision today, April 8, following the three-day Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting held from April 6 to April 8, 2026
Just now
Tata Motors Commercial Vehicles on launched an electric commercial vehicle Intra EV Pickup on Monday, with an ex-showroom price of Rs 11.95 lakh. In a move to expand its electric small commercial vehicle portfolio, the new launch will be available across Tata Motors’ commercial vehicle
Just now
Rajiv Thakur of Saharanpur got the shock of his life on April 3 — a Rs 4,000 traffic challan on his phone, issued by Pauri-Garhwal Traffic Police in Uttarakhand. The catch? His car hadn’t left his neighbourhood since Holi. Right outside his house in Gill Colony, Sadar Bazaar
Just now
It was a day to forget for R Praggnanandhaa at the Candidates tournament, as the young Indian GM saw his hopes of a top finish take a serious hit following a defeat to Anish Giri in Round 8 on Tuesday. Pragg Slips Up Against Anish GiriIt was a day to forget for R Praggnanandhaa at the Candidates
Just now
David Raya is the best goalkeeper in the world. At least according to his Arsenal team-mates. The Gunners keeper made four superb saves in his latest excellent display in the 1-0 Champions League victory over Sporting, with Kai Havertz hitting a late winner
Just now
5 eras of Allu Arjun's stardom: Getting trolled for his looks to becoming a superstar to be reckoned withOn Allu Arjun's 44th birthday, charting his rise from debuting as Chiranjeevi's nephew to earning a name of his own in the film industry. Apr 8, 2026
Just now
Stirred into tea, drizzled over breakfast, or taken by the spoonful when your throat feels off, honey is one of those ingredients you instinctively reach for. But have you ever wondered why it always seems to help, no matter the situation? What is it about this simple
Just now
India is planning to expand the adoption of electric cooking stoves, as a shortage of cooking gas triggered by the West Asia conflict continues India is planning a major push to expand the adoption of electric cooking stoves, as a shortage of cooking gas triggered by the West Asia conflict
Just now
India gold prices fall over 14 percent this month as dollar strengthens, 24k gold near Rs 1.5 lakh per 10g, silver around Rs 1.5 lakh per kg, Iran US ceasefire talks add pressure Gold and Silver Rates In India Today, April 07: Gold and silver prices in India continued to drop on April 7
Just now
Govt is likely to roll out a Rs 2.5-lakh-cr credit guarantee scheme in the coming days to support sectors impacted by the West Asian crisis The central government is likely to roll out a Rs 2.5-lakh-crore credit guarantee scheme in the coming days to support sectors impacted by the West Asian
Just now
Asian stock market zoomed over 5 per cent and oil prices plunged 14 per cent on Wednesday, followed by the announcement of a 15-day ceasefire between Iran and the US and negotiation talks are being set to hold in Islamabad on April 10. Japan’s Nikkei surged 5 per cent to reach the day’s high at
Just now
Flight operations to Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Jeddah remain restricted as airlines issue fresh advisory, urging passengers to stay updated amid changing schedules and ongoing disruptions. If you are planning to fly to Dubai, Abu Dhabi or other West Asian destinations via Air India or IndiGo airlines
Just now
