TP Sulfath, a Muslim woman from Wandoor Panchayath of Malappuram District is the candidate of the Bharatiya Janata Party(BJP) in ward no 6 of Wandoor Panchayat in the ensuing local body polls of December 14 in the last of the three-phase polls.
Sulfath, while speaking to Organiser, said that she was attracted by the policies and programmes initiated and executed by Prime minister Narendra Modi and how it has affected changes among the women, especially Muslim women. She also said that the Muslim women of the country feel secured and protected under the rule of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. She also expressed a burning desire to have a selfie with the Prime Minister and cited this as her biggest ambition. Excerpts from her interview with senior journalist Arun Lakshman:
You are contesting the elections to Wandoor Gram panchayat on a BJP ticket, being a Muslim woman in a predominantly Muslim dominated district, how come you are on a BJP ticket?
This is my first electoral foray and being an ardent supporter and fan of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, I found that contesting on a BJP ticket is an apt decision for this local body polls. I feel that by contesting as a BJP candidate, I can be part and parcel of the development schemes unleashed by the government of India for the benefit of the people at large.
There are rumours that you have been given some offers to contest as a BJP candidate, Your response?
I come from affluent and well to do family of Wandoor and we are an established family in this part of the world since generations. I cannot be lured into a political system through offers and postings. It is my own decision to contest the elections on a BJP ticket and I am putting my whole hearted efforts to win the seat for the BJP.
What is the main reason for this attraction towards Prime Minister Narendra Modi?
I feel that he is an honest politician and he had done many things for the welfare of this country without any considerations based on caste, creed, religion or demography. More than anything else, I am attracted by the bold decision taken by the Prime minister on the Triple Talaq matter and raising the marriageable age of women to 21. These two decisions have given a major voice to Muslim women. This has given the Muslim women a voice in the country which was hitherto unheard of. I am of the personal opinion that the marriageable age be raised to may be even 25.
You are a votary for increasing the marriageable age to even more than 21. Can you cite any specific reasons behind this?
I was married off at the age of 15 and several of my friends and relatives were also married off at 14,15,16 ages. Women don’t know what is happening to them as we were all small young girls who were studying. I want all the women to get maximum education, get a job and be on their own and then marry.
Were there any objections to you contesting the elections?
As I said earlier, ours is a well to do family of Malappuram and I have four elder brothers who are all successful businessmen. All the brothers are either with the left front or with the Congress but no one is supporting BJP. They told me initially as to whether I could contest as a candidate of either the LDF or UDF but I was adamant that I will contest in the BJP ticket only. Our parents never forced anything on us and this helped me to independently choose my political party and beyond a point they did not put any pressure on me.
What about your husband and other members of the family?
My husband and children are in total support of me and this has given me added strength in the tough terrain of politics.
What is the vibe that you are getting from the ground on the electoral prospects?
As I said earlier, we are a very popular family of Wandoor and when I approach people as a candidate, I feel a very positive response from all of them. At times, I even think that I may win with a huge majority but I have dismissed that as my fantasy. However, one thing I can vouch, whether I win or lose, my fight is for the Prime minister and the good work he has done for the country, especially for the Muslim women of this great country. The Muslim women of this country feel secured and protected under Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Any message to the people of this country?
After I became a candidate of the BJP, there has been an avid interest on me through the state of Kerala with news channels brining out my interview. I feel this as a clear message to the Muslim women of the state and the nation. They should understand as to why, I being a Muslim is contesting on a BJP ticket. The Muslim women of this country are being uplifted by the programmes and policies of our beloved Prime Minister Narendra Modi Ji and I want the Muslim women in large numbers to cast their vote in favour of the BJP and the Prime minister.
