Malappuram: Tensions within Samastha have resurfaced ahead of the local body elections, with a section of the organisation echoing the CPM’s long-standing charge that the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) is forging political links with Jamaat-e-Islami.

The controversy intensified after Samastha Mushawara member Umar Faizi Mukkam and leader Hameed Faizy Ambalakkadavu publicly criticised the Muslim League during the campaign period.

Hameed Faizy has alleged that the ongoing discord between Samastha and the League stems from the latter’s supposed proximity to Jamaat-e-Islami, an accusation he outlined in a Facebook post without naming the party directly.

According to him, the underlying issues within Samastha indicate attempts by a section to cultivate new ties with Jamaat-e-Islami. League supporters within Samastha argue that such allegations conveniently surface during election season and mirror the CPM’s familiar political attacks against the party.

Until recently, Samastha’s anti-League faction had focused its criticism on the perceived rise of the Mujahid wing within the League and the alleged targeting of Samastha under the leadership of League general secretary PMA Salam. 

Hameed Faizy warned that any rapprochement with Jamaat-e-Islami could pave the way for Jamaat-Brotherhood ideologies to gain wider influence among Kerala’s Muslims. Umar Faizi cautioned that such an “infiltration” would weaken both Samastha and the broader Islamic community. Both leaders belong to the organisation’s anti-League bloc.

The faction had openly campaigned against the League in the Ponnani constituency during the last Lok Sabha elections, although the party secured a comfortable victory. While they have not adopted such a public stance this time, the League fears they may still prove pivotal in closely contested wards, particularly in Malappuram district.

In contrast, the Kanthapuram faction, often regarded as being closer to the Left, has refrained from openly attacking the Muslim League despite the renewed criticism from within Samastha. They have, however, been vocal in their criticism of the CPM on various issues, including the implementation of the PM SHRI scheme.