IMO News Service
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Muslim political outfit the Indian Muslim Union League (IUML) seems to have a change of heart and is open to the idea of fielding more Muslim women during the 2021 state assembly elections. The IUML, which has so far fielded only one woman in its history in 1996 assembly elections, has now decided to change its policy during the current polls in the key South Indian state, IANS news agency reported.
The IUML had fielded Muslim Women League leader Khamarunnisa Anwar as the party candidate in 1996 elections from Kozhikode North seat. She however failed to win the seat.![]()
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After the drubbing, the IUML refrained from fielding women candidates either for assembly or parliament elections. However, several women leaders contested and won elections in gram panchayats, block panchayats, district panchayats, municipalities and corporations.
The male-dominated IUML sought to block women candidates from fighting assembly and parliamentary elections on the plea that their presence in elections would be strongly opposed by Muslim clerics.
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E.T. Mohammed Basheer, IUML organising secretary and Member of Parliament, has already hinted that a large section of the party leadership want to see women candidates to be fielded in the 2021 assembly elections in certain sure seats. He said that he would convey his opinion in the party state executive, after which the party may decide to take a call on this.
P. Kulsul, Muslim Woman League state secretary and former member of Kerala state woman's commission, was quoted as saying that women candidates will be welcomed in the next assembly elections. The women have waited for long ever since 1996 when the then Muslim Woman League president Khamarunnisa Anwar contested from Kozhikode. She said that it is strongly hoped that the IUML will be fielding some women in the current state election.
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Muslim political outfit the Indian Muslim Union League (IUML) seems to have a change of heart and is open to the idea of fielding more Muslim women during the 2021 state assembly elections. The IUML, which has so far fielded only one woman in its history in 1996 assembly elections, has now decided to change its policy during the current polls in the key South Indian state, IANS news agency reported.
The IUML had fielded Muslim Women League leader Khamarunnisa Anwar as the party candidate in 1996 elections from Kozhikode North seat. She however failed to win the seat.
After the drubbing, the IUML refrained from fielding women candidates either for assembly or parliament elections. However, several women leaders contested and won elections in gram panchayats, block panchayats, district panchayats, municipalities and corporations.
The male-dominated IUML sought to block women candidates from fighting assembly and parliamentary elections on the plea that their presence in elections would be strongly opposed by Muslim clerics.
E.T. Mohammed Basheer, IUML organising secretary and Member of Parliament, has already hinted that a large section of the party leadership want to see women candidates to be fielded in the 2021 assembly elections in certain sure seats. He said that he would convey his opinion in the party state executive, after which the party may decide to take a call on this.
P. Kulsul, Muslim Woman League state secretary and former member of Kerala state woman's commission, was quoted as saying that women candidates will be welcomed in the next assembly elections. The women have waited for long ever since 1996 when the then Muslim Woman League president Khamarunnisa Anwar contested from Kozhikode. She said that it is strongly hoped that the IUML will be fielding some women in the current state election.