Kerala appears to be entering a phase where religious influence is increasingly shaping governance, stretching from the appointment of SHOs in police stations to key ministerial and departmental postings, through Jamaat-e-Islami, with the Congress and the Muslim League seen as enabling this trajectory. With the Assembly election nearing, the Jamaat-e-Islami–Congress–Muslim League nexus is increasingly seen as driving the state in that direction. Muslim League leader K. N. A. Khader had, much earlier, asserted that the Deputy Chief Minister’s post rightfully belongs to the League, expressing confidence that the matter would be considered within the alliance based on its performance. Notably, it was not the BJP, but CPI(M) leader A. K. Balan, who remarked that if the UDF comes to power, the Home Department would effectively be governed by Jamaat-e-Islami. Though he later apologised, the statement reinforced a growing perception that Kerala is being pushed towards the dominance of Islamist forces and Sharia-based governance. Adding to this, Minister Saji Cherian observed, “To understand communalism, one only needs to look at the names of those who win elections in Kasaragod and Malappuram districts,” pointing to what he described as an uncomfortable ground reality. Former Chief Minister V. S. Achuthanandan too had warned that organised efforts have long been underway to transform Kerala into a Muslim-majority region. Taken together, these statements raise a pressing question that are political forces led by the Congress and the Muslim League attempting to steer Kerala towards a Bangladesh-style model of governance?
Bangladesh and Jamaat-e-Islami
In the context of political developments in Kerala, Malayalis must understand the experience of neighbouring Bangladesh. Jamaat-e-Islami came to power in 2001 in alliance with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), securing two cabinet minister positions. The organisation, which has been active since 1975 with the support of Pakistan, first extended support to the BNP in 1991. However, between 2013 and 2023, Jamaat was barred from contesting elections by court orders during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina. Following Hasina’s removal, Jamaat returned and emerged as a major opposition force in the 2026 general elections, even contesting against its former ally, BNP. Jamaat also played a role in the disqualification of Hasina’s Awami League from contesting.
Jamaat is considered the South Asian version of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt. Inspired by Islamist radicals such as Syed Abul Ala Maududi, Sayyid Qutb, and Hassan al-Banna, the organisation was founded in Lahore during British rule by Maududi. It believes in political Islam and aims to establish an Islamic political system. Jamaat has long pursued the creation of a strong religious-political structure in Bangladesh, with the ultimate objective of establishing an Islamic system of governance that controls all aspects of society. Its ideological and strategic links with Pakistan’s Jamaat-e-Islami and the intelligence agency ISI reflect its broader ambitions. It is also alleged that in 2025, with support from the United States and Pakistan, Jamaat played a role in the unrest that led to Hasina’s removal.
Similar Developments in Kerala
There is little doubt that similar efforts are unfolding in Kerala, including attempts to influence cultural leaders. The Congress–Jamaat cooperation is seen as parallel to the BNP–Jamaat alliance in Bangladesh. Congress’s Leader of Opposition V. D. Satheesan has publicly justified and defended Jamaat by claiming that “Jamaat has abandoned religious nationalism.” However, during the January 2026 election campaign in Bangladesh, Jamaat candidate Afzal Hossain urged his supporters: “In a country where nearly eighty percent of the population is Muslim, there should not be ‘unbelievers’ or ‘immoral representatives’ in Parliament. Do you want the Quran or deviations from it?” This reflects the organisation’s position that Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians should not be represented in Parliament.
In Kerala, Jamaat-e-Islami state general secretary and Shura member Shaikh Muhammad Karakkunnu declared that “no true believer can reject an Islamic republic,” and argued that Islamic governance can be established even in non-Muslim-majority regions, citing that when Prophet Muhammad established rule in Medina, Muslims were only about fifteen per cent of the population.
Muslim League leader K. M. Shaji (K. Muhammad Shaji) also declared in Kerala that “religion is the important,” and that Muslims had not held power for the past ten years, and that they seek power to secure their rights.
The banned extremist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) had also declared its goal of transforming India into an Islamic state by 2047. In this context, it is argued that if the UDF comes to power, Kerala may face governance shaped by religious fundamentalist forces.
Is Kerala becoming another Bangladesh?
Bangladesh, once a rapidly developing country, is now facing decline after falling into the hands of religious extremists. Economic growth has slowed, foreign investment has declined, foreign exchange reserves have weakened, and industrial production has reduced. Unemployment and corruption have increased, while inflation has crossed 8 per cent. According to World Bank estimates, more than three million people fell into poverty in 2025 alone. Under Jamaat’s influence, rising mob violence against Hindus, Sikhs, and Christians has created widespread insecurity, discouraging foreign investment and leading to factory closures. According to police industrial data, between August 2024 and May 2025 alone, around 60,000 workers lost their jobs in factories. Additionally, between July and December 2024, nearly two million people across the country lost employment. Foreign countries also imposed restrictions on employing Bangladeshi workers.
Global trade developments, including US tariff policies, further weakened Bangladesh’s garment industry, which was the backbone of its economy.
Critics argue that similar risks exist in Kerala. The state already has one of the highest unemployment rates in India, nearing 30 per cent. Concerns have also been raised about Muslim youth being drawn towards extremist organisations abroad. In this context, the emerging alliance of the Muslim League, SDPI, Congress, and Jamaat is seen as a foundation that could push Kerala towards radicalisation and instability, while threatening the social and economic security of Hindu and Christian communities. Therefore, it is argued that every vote for the UDF could become a step towards turning Kerala into another Bangladesh.
