Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee(KPCC) president Mullappally Ramachandran had taken strong exception to the joint rally held by the Left Democratic Front and the Congress-led United Democratic Front(UDF) against the CAA. Since the Congress was leading the national struggle against the Act, there was no need for the party to play second fiddle to the LDF in the State. Also, such joint efforts would weaken the UDF’s fight against the ‘anti-people’ policies of the Pinarayi Vijayan Government. That was the thrust of the Mullappally Line.

But, fierce opposition to the Line came from within the Congress itself. Senior party leader and former chief minister Oommen Chandy fired the first salvo against Mullappally. Joint struggles are the need of the hour when the nation is facing serious danger from the BJP-RSS combine, he said, in a clear rejection of Mullappally’s stance.

Leader of the Opposition, Ramesh Chennithala, who took the initiative for joining hands with the LDF, himself rebuffed the KPCC president’s line. It was a phone call from Ramesh to Pinarayi Vijayan which had resulted in the joint struggle move. The decision had earned appreciation at the national level.

Another senior party leader VD Satheeshan also strongly backed the Ramesh-initiated move. Such join t struggles against the BJP-RSS must be held again if the need arose, Satheeshan averred.

In further embarrassment to Mullappally, his line received a severe snub from the second most important ally of the Congress in UDF, the IUML as well. This was the time to sink all political differences and launch a joint battle against the CAA, the League leaders felt. The fight against the BJP-RSS was more important than the State-level fight against the LDF Government. That was the burden of the League song.

It may be mentioned that the IUML was the first party to mount a legal challenge against the CAA. The League leaders had moved the apex court against the act, and the petition is coming up for hearing in January next year.

The main theme of the UDF campaign is that the fight is not that of the IUML alone. The concept of secular India is in grave danger. Therefore, it is of paramount importance that all parties, cutting across the political spectrum join hands to defeat the sinister designs of the Modi Government.

In another significant development, all Muslim organisations in the State have, in an un precedented show of unity, decided to have a joint rally against the CAA in the new year. Among the organisations which will participate in the rally are the warring Sunni factions – the EK faction of the Sunnis which backs the IUML and the Kanthapuram Musliar-led AP faction.

The coming together of all opposition parties in the State sends a powerful message to the Modi Government. This is a highly significant political development which other States would do well to emulate in the hour of danger, say opposition leaders in the State.(IPA Service)