Kerala Assembly polls: IUML State secretary Randathani slams Tirurangadi pick, says deserving voices ignored

A controversy has erupted within the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) after its Kerala State secretary Abdurahiman Randathani openly challenged the party leadership’s decision to field P.M.A. Sameer in the Tirurangadi constituency for the April 9 Assembly elections in the State.

The IUML’s list of candidates for 25 constituencies was announced on Tuesday (March 17, 2026) evening by State president Syed Sadikali Shihab Thangal. Mr. Sameer was nominated for Tirurangadi, a seat being vacated by veteran leader K.P.A. Majeed. Mr. Sameer, a company secretary by profession, is not regarded as someone who has risen through the party ranks.

Soon after the announcement, Mr. Randathani took to Facebook, sharply criticising the decision. At the same time, he praised the selection of Muslim Youth League leaders such as P.K. Firoz, Faisal Babu, T.P. Ashraf Ali and P.K. Nawas.

He also commended the candidature of K.M. Shaji in Vengara, noting that Mr. Shaji had won twice and lost twice against the Left, a political trajectory similar to his own.

In his post, Mr. Randathani argued that Mr. Sameer was a relatively new face who had been “imposed” on Tirurangadi, a constituency once represented by stalwarts such as A.K. Antony, Avukadar Kutty Naha and U.A. Beeran, while “overlooking several deserving” candidates.

He further pointed out that neither party workers nor local panchayat or municipal committees had demanded Mr. Sameer’s candidature. He alleged that the decision was driven by vested interests and that “innocent Thangals” from Panakkad were being used as “tools.”

‘Not indiscipline’

Mr. Randathani maintained that questioning such decisions should not be seen as “indiscipline”. According to him, it is “only natural for committed party workers, who expect no personal reward,” to express their concerns.

In a pointed remark directed at the leadership, including Mr. Thangal and IUML national general secretary P.K. Kunhalikutty, Mr. Randathani said that no one should consider themselves beyond criticism, recalling that “even Caliphs had been questioned while on the pulpit.”

Meanwhile, discontent surfaced in the Vanitha League as well, the party’s women’s wing. Vanitha League leader Noorbeena Rasheed criticised the decision to field Fatima Thahiliya in Perambra, arguing that the party “denied rightful representation” to the Vanitha League. Ms. Rasheed, who had unsuccessfully contested the 2021 election in Kozhikode South against Ahamed Devarkovil of the Indian National League, termed the move “unjust.”

Amid the growing internal dissent, speculation is rife that the Left Democratic Front (LDF) may consider fielding Mr. Randathani as an Independent candidate in Tirur or Tanur.

Meanwhile, V. Abdurahiman, Minister for Sports, Waqf and Haj Pilgrimage who defeated Mr. Randathani in Tanur in 2016 and P.K. Firoz in 2021 as an LDF-backed Independent, has yet to launch his campaign in the constituency.

Mr. Randathani declined to respond to the speculation.

Responding to the unrest, Mr. Thangal said it was “natural for some aspirants to feel disappointed.” He said he would listen to and address their concerns.