Home India Politics Number of Muslim MLAs in Tamil Nadu likely to go down

Number of Muslim MLAs in Tamil Nadu likely to go down

By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net

Chennai: Muslims constitute around 7% of the South Indian state of Tamil Nadu. There are two main political alliances in this battle of ballots led by DMK supremo Karunanidhi and AIDMK Chief Jayalalitha (Amma). When it comes to Muslim parties there are mainly two Muslim political parties in the electoral fray this time around; Manithaneya Makkal Katchi (MMK) led by coordinator Prof. M.H. Jawahirullah and Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) led by Prof. K.M. Khader Mohideen.

In total only 15 Muslim candidates have been fielded by the main political parties fighting to capture power in the state whereas there are several Muslim independent candidates in the electoral fray. Rightly or wrongly, DMK is seen as an ally of Muslim minority community in the State. Even in the last Assembly it had 5 out of 7 Muslim MLAs. During this election also DMK alliance has fielded “maximum” number of Muslim candidates; 10 out of 15. So its win will be good news for the Muslim candidates. However this calculation will get jeopardized in case of likely anti-incumbency wave across the State. Exit polls have shown doors to the Karunanidhi led DMK alliance and possible entry of Jayalalitha in the new Secretariat.




Prof. Jawahirullah of MMK is contesting from Ramanathapuram.

In case of a possible sweep for Jayalalitha, Amma of South India, this number might get reduced. Any ways the politics of South India is known to be no less volatile than the Amma herself, with the either of the two parties usually sweeping the election results. So if one goes by the pattern of election results in the state its not a good omen for the Muslim community in the state.

MMK is in alliance with AIADMK which has provided just 3 seats for the Jawahirullah led party to fight elections on MMK’s symbols. IUML is also fighting on 3 seats, interestingly on DMK’s symbol (rising son) because IUML is registered but
unrecognized party in Tamil Nadu; while it is recognized in Kerala.

Tauhud Jamaat led by P Zainul Abedin, a breakaway faction from Tamil Nadu Muslim Munetra Kazhagam, (TMMK) has announced to extend its support to DMK.

It’s worth highlighting here that the three candidates of MMK haven’t been pitted against the three candidates of IUML.

There were 7 Mulsim MLAs in the dissolved Tamil Nadu Legislative Assembly including 5 from DMK, one from AIADMK and one from the Congress party. But these times around there are just 15 Muslim candidates in the electoral fray with no body
knowing that how many of them will make it to the Assembly.

The following is the list of Muslim candidates of the fronts led by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam.

1. Abdul Raheem (AIADMK) – Avadi

2. Altaf Hussain (DMK) –Harbour

3. Thameemun Ansari (MMK)-Chepauk

4. Hasan Mohammed Jinnah (DMK)- Thousand Lights

5. Abdul Basith H. (IUML)– Vaniyambadi

6. Aslam Basha A. (MMK) – Ambur

7. M.Mohammad Yusuf (VCK)– Ulundurpet

8. Syed Giyaz Ul Haq (Congress) – Bargur

9. Mohamed Shaik Dawood (IUML)– Nagapattinam

10. S.N.M.Ubayathullah ( DMK ) – Thanjavur

11. S. Syed Ghouse Batcha (DMK) – Madurai Central

12. K. Hasan Ali (Congress)- Ramanathapuram

13. Prof. M.H. Jawahirullah (MMK) – Ramanathapuram

14. Mujibur Rahman, (AIADMK Alliance)- Thiruvadanai.

15. T.P.M. Mohideen Khan (DMK)– Palayamkottai