Kerala Chief Minister-designate Satheesan rejects attempts to ‘demonise’ IUML as anti-secular

Kerala’s Chief Minister-designate, V D Satheesan, on Sunday (May 17, 2026) sought to dispel what he termed as “hate propaganda” targeting the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), a key United Democratic Front (UDF) ally. 

Flanked by IUML’s top leadership, including the party’s State president, Panakkad Sayyid Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal and national general secretary, P.K. Kunhalikutty, Mr. Satheesan said he would counter attempts to portray the IUML as an anti-secular outfit with a “prompt, strong and fitting reply”. He said the UDF government would not allow any entity to create social schisms in Kerala. 

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“Such intrigue to divide Kerala’s secular polity from any quarter will be met strongly. We had effectively countered the anti-minority narrative during the Assembly election campaign. People of Kerala had rejected the divisive narrative and gifted the UDF a historic win. The government will uphold the mandate to insulate Kerala from any attempt to divide it on communal lines”, he added. 

Mr. Satheesan had called on the IUML’s leadership after its parliamentary party, comprising 22 MLA elects, convened in Thiruvananthapuram under the aegis of Mr Thangal to discuss the party’s role in the UDF cabinet. 

Mr. Satheesan said IUML “baiters” should recognise the party’s historic role as a secular and stabilising force. “Thangal family’s role in stressing secularism and communal amity had cushioned the social fallout of the demolition of the Babri Masjid in 1992”, he said. 

Mr. Satheesan said IUML showed steadiness in upholding secularism and bringing communities together in the “Munambam and Palluruthy issues”. 

Mr. Satheesan was referring to the social tensions that broke out following the dispute between the Waqf Board and 600 predominantly Christian families over 400 acres of a coastal neighbourhood in the Ernakulam district during the 2024-25 period. 

Mr. Satheesan said the IUML was instrumental in protecting the ownership and revenue rights of Munambam residents. He also referred to the IUML’s role in restoring harmony after a Catholic-run school at Palluruthy expelled a student after her family insisted that their ward wear hijab, a veil worn by Muslim women, to cover their heads as part of a religious code. 

“I invite those who seek to portray the IUML as anti-secular to contemplate the fundamentalist forces that would have come to the fore if not for the League leadership”, he said. 

Mr. Thangal sought to reciprocate Mr Satheesan’s statement by declaring total support for the Chief Minister-designate. “Finally, Kerala has got the leader it deserves”, he added. 

Both leaders demurred when asked whether IUML would get five ministerial berths. “You (journalists) will be the first to know before I meet the Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlerkar to submit the list of Ministers who will be sworn in along with me on Monday”, Mr. Satheesan said. 

Mr. Satheesan said government formation talks had “passed an important stage” and there was no roadblock to naming the cabinet. “UDF worked as a team. We had no disputes when finalising seat sharing. The same spirit will endure when UDF finalises its cabinet”, he said.